Articles | Volume 29, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-3055-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-29-3055-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
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18 Jul 2025
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 18 Jul 2025
| 18 Jul 2025
The value of hydroclimatic teleconnections for snow-based seasonal streamflow forecasting in central Asia
Atabek Umirbekov
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department Structural Change, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
Mayra Daniela Peña-Guerrero
Department Structural Change, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
Iulii Didovets
Research Department II: Climate Resilience, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Telegrafenberg A 31, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Heiko Apel
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geoscience, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Abror Gafurov
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geoscience, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Daniel Müller
Department Structural Change, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany
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Executive editor
This social relevant work is innovative, well-thought-out, and technically sound. The study has the potential to support water management in an under-served region that would benefit from this kind of operational forecast system (Central Asia). Free public availability of the author’s code and all the required input data means the forecast model is easily implemented in production systems.
This social relevant work is innovative, well-thought-out, and technically sound. The study has...
Short summary
Seasonal streamflow forecasts for snowmelt-dominated catchments often rely on snowpack data, which are not always available and are prone to errors. Our study evaluates near-real-time global snow estimates and climate oscillation indices for predictions in the data-scarce mountains of central Asia. We show that climate indices can improve prediction accuracy at longer lead times, help offset snow data uncertainty, and enhance predictions where streamflow depends on in-season climate variability.
Seasonal streamflow forecasts for snowmelt-dominated catchments often rely on snowpack data,...
