Regional Working Groups on Hydrology

The six Regional Associations (RAI - Africa, RAII - Asia, RAIII - South America, RAIV - North and Central America, RA V - South-west Pacific and RAVI - Europe) of WMO have each established a working group on hydrology (WGH) with terms of reference encompassing the range of topics covered by the HWRP. Decisions concerning the implementation of these regional activities are taken by the associations at their four-yearly meetings. The work is undertaken by the associations' rapporteurs and working groups, with the support of the WMO Secretariat, the technical support being provided by the HWR Department. These working groups consider hydrological problems of interest in their respective Regions including, for example:

1. Surveys on the adequacy of networks of hydrological stations in WMO Regions;
2. Surveys on hydrological data transmission and processing facilities, data banks and requirements of Members for hydrological forecasting;
3. The application of WMO standards and recommended practices in hydrology;
4. The development and promotion of regional aspects of the HOMS with respect to its application to the particular needs of the various Regions;
5. Contributions to projects under WCP-Water;
6. Studies of the special problems faced and the resulting needs of Hydrological Services in specific climatic zones.

Some of these projects, namely (a) and (e) above, are undertaken jointly with CHy.

The RAs WGH also follow up on the implementation of relevant decisions of Congress and other WMO bodies within their Regions. The chairmen of these working groups have also been appointed, pursuant to a decision by Congress, as the regional hydrological advisers to the presidents of the regional associations. Meetings between the president of CHy and these regional advisers, scheduled to take advantage of their attendance at sessions of the Executive Council, allow for an exchange of experience on, and further the co-ordination of, activities at global and regional levels.

For further information on the activities of the Groups click below:

• Regional Association I
  • 11th Session of the RA I WGH (16-20 November 2015)
• Regional Association II
• 2018 Meeting of RA II WGHS (26-28 November 2018)
• First Meeting of RA II WGHS (17-19 October 2017)
• Third Meeting of RA II WGHS (25-27 October 2016)
• Second Meeting of RA II WGHS (14-16 April 2015)
• First Meeting of RA II WGHS (30 September - 2 October 2014)
• WGHS Session (March 2007) Final report
• Regional Association III
  • RA III Virtual Hydrology Forum
  • Segunda Reunión Conjunta de los Grupos de Trabajo de la AR-III: Hidrología (GT-HRH), Clima (GT-CL) e Infraestructura y Desarrollo Tecnológico (GT-IDT), Octubre 2017
  • Second joint meeting of the RA III Working Groups on Hydrology (WG-HWR), Climate (WG-CL) and Infrastructure and Technological Development (WG-ITD)(October 2017)
  • Décimo cuarta reunión (octubre 2017) Informe Final
  • Décimo tercera reunión, Grupo de Trabajo sobre Hidrología y Recursos Hídricos, (octubre 2015) Informe Final
• Regional Association IV
  • RA IV Virtual Hydrology Forum
  • Eleventh Meeting of RA IV WGH (January 2018)
  • Tenth Meeting of RA IV WGH (February 2015)
  • Ninth Session (December 2006) (Informe final Spanish)
• Regional Association V
  • RA V Working Group on Hydrological Services (Virtual Forum)
  • Ninth Session (November 2015) Final report
  • Eighth Session (November 2013) Final report
  • Seventh Session (December 2009) Final report
  • Sixth Session (October 2005) Final report
  • (Hydrological needs of small islands (October 1999) Report
• Regional Association VI