Articles | Volume 26, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1389-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-1389-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opportunities for seasonal forecasting to support water management outside the tropics
Leah A. Jackson-Blake
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), 0349 Oslo, Norway
François Clayer
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), 0349 Oslo, Norway
Elvira de Eyto
Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, County Mayo F28 PF65, Ireland
Andrew S. French
Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, County Mayo F28 PF65, Ireland
current address: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N63K, Ireland
María Dolores Frías
Grupo de Meteorología, Dpto. de Matemática Aplicada y Ciencias de la Computación, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Daniel Mercado-Bettín
Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003 Girona, Spain
Universitat de Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain
Tadhg Moore
Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, A91 K584 Dundalk, Ireland
current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Laura Puértolas
Albirem Sustainability, Ltd., 08014 Barcelona, Spain
Russell Poole
Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, County Mayo F28 PF65, Ireland
Karsten Rinke
Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Muhammed Shikhani
Department of Lake Research, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Leon van der Linden
SA Water, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Rafael Marcé
Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), 17003 Girona, Spain
Universitat de Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain
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We assessed the predictive skill of forecasting tools over the next season for water discharge and lake temperature. Tools were forced with seasonal weather predictions; however, most of the prediction skill originates from legacy effects and not from seasonal weather predictions. Yet, when skills from seasonal weather predictions are present, additional skill comes from interaction effects. Skilful lake seasonal predictions require better weather predictions and realistic antecedent conditions.
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We explore, together with stakeholders, whether seasonal forecasting of water quantity, quality, and ecology can help support water management at five case study sites, primarily in Europe. Reliable forecasting, a season in advance, has huge potential to improve decision-making. However, managers were reluctant to use the forecasts operationally. Key barriers were uncertainty and often poor historic performance. The importance of practical hands-on experience was also highlighted.
We explore, together with stakeholders, whether seasonal forecasting of water quantity, quality,...