1. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Jean-Marie Carrière Director of Forecasting

2. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology  Although hydrology is not in the basic missions of Météo- France… –The missions of Météo-France include observing, qualifying and forecasting precipitations and other atmospheric parameters, as well as the state of the snow mantle and ocean surface (waves). These factors, especially precipitations, are of utmost importance for hydrology. –Modelling the interactions between soil and atmosphere, which is made routinely in the frame of Numerical Weather Prediction and climatic simulation, provides a frame which allows tackling some aspects of surface hydrology. –SCHAPI (the French national flood forecast centre) and the central weather forecast services of Météo-France in Toulouse are co-located

3. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology  A framework agreement between Météo-France and the ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development -Methodological support to flood prevention -Definition and cost sharing (investment) of surface precipitations observation network (in situ and remote sensing systems) -Operational support to flood forecasting centres (SCHAPI & SPC) -Météo-France is itself a flood forecasting centre for the « East Mediterranean » area (but it does not manage the water level measurement network) -Support to hydrological follow-up and drought management -Collaborative studies on the detection and anticipation of the impact of climate change on the water cycle

4. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology The operational non- hydrostatic NWP model AROME of Météo- France Resolution ~ 2,5 km Thunderstorms over Paris

5. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology The French hydrometeorological radar network operated by Météo-France Doppler winds used in the AROME model, reflectivities soon

6. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Météo-France’s soil surface model Used for drought follow-up and operational flood forecasting (flood vigilance) Soil water index Water content of the snow mantle (kg. m -2 ) Result of a large co- operation in the French community (SISYPHE, Ecole des Mines, CNRS,…)

7. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Météo-France’s real time climatological qualification system for heavy precipitations Regionalization of return period for extreme precipitation Return period 10 years for 24 hour-cumulated precipitation - Developed in collaboration with Cemagref - An aid to decision-makers - Experimented by SCHAPI and SPC - Red : return period > 50 years

8. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Contribution to the studies about the impacts of climate change on the hydrological cycle

9. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Ensemble river discharge forecasting system Experimented by SCHAPI and SPC Developed in cooperation between Météo-France, Ecole des Mines, …

10. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology Météo-France’s storm surge operational model Should be experimented by SCHAPI and SPC for estuaries and water evacuation at sea

11. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology The Gironde hydrodynamic 2D finite-element model A collaborative project between Météo-France, SCHAPI, SPC and the National Hydraulic Research Lab of EDF Operated routinely by Météo- France on its super-computer (Nec SX-9)

12. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology The French meteorological vigilance system combines heavy precipitations and flood risk as an integrated « precipitation and/or flood » risk pictogram

13. 27 March 2009 Météo-France and hydrology The scheme of real-time operational expertise exchanges and crisis management between Météo- France, SCHAPI and SPC Regional level National level