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National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology

Mandates                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Hydrology and Water Resources Services Division (HWRSD) is mandated for water resources assessment, hydrological forecasting, hydrological data management, dissemination of hydrological data and information and issue early warning services related to flood and GLOF.

Functions

a.    Operation of National Hydrological database 
b.    Hydrological modelling for flow and flood forecasting
c.    Water Resources Assessment
d.    Maintain River Information System (RIS)
e.    Inventory of rivers and stream and its information
f.    Flood hazard mapping
g.    Conduct research in the field of hydrology, water resources, flooding, climate change impact on water resources 
h.    Conduct on need-based research, modelling and prediction to advance knowledge and understanding of the natural hydro-met systems and physical processes 
i.    Hydrological risk assessment and hazard mapping 
j.    Liaise with other divisions pertaining to data requirement for flood forecasting and warning  
k.    Operation of the Flood Monitoring and Command Room (FMCR) of National Weather and Flood Warming Center (NWFWC) 24/7 in coordination with the basin flood warning Control Rooms and Weather Forecasting Section of WCSD.
l.    Issue flood/GLOF early warning during the severe weather conditions; 
m.    Coordinate with the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC)/DDM, Hydropower Plants and others regarding the inter-agencies Flood forecasting and warning
n.    Prepare and issue flood and inflow forecasts of the selected river basins and sub-basins; 
o.    Perform statistical analysis of hydrological time series data  
p.    Publish statistical data relating to surface water and its information relating to water resources in coordination with RASS. 
q.    Dissemination of hydrological data to end users based on the request, 
r.    Publication of hydrological year book. 

Structure

Hydrology and Water Resources Services Division (HWRSD) is organized into three Sections:
a.    Forecasting and Warning Section (FWS)
b.    Hydrology and Water Information Section (CIS) and
c.    Hydrology Research & Analysis Services Section (HRASS)

Functions of Forecasting and Warning Section (FWS)

a.    Provide flood forecasting and early warning services to all major flood prone river basins of the country through a network of flood/GLOF EWS facilities in the river basins. 
b.    Promote modern data collection techniques and hydrological modelling for water resources development through inflow and flood forecasting and warning services 
c.    Liaise with other divisions of the Center pertaining to data requirement for flood forecasting and warning  
d.    Setup appropriate hydrological model for different basins for flood forecasting and inflow forecasting  
e.    Operation of the Flood Monitoring and Command Room (FMCR) of National Weather and Flood Warning Center (NWFWC) 24/7 in coordination with the basin flood warning Control Rooms. 
f.    Issue flood/GLOF warning during the severe weather conditions; 
g.    Public information and education on floods, and post-flood investigation with concerned offices within and outside the agency; 
h.    Coordinate with the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC)/DDM, Hydropower Plants (DGPC) and others regarding the inter-agencies Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems  
i.    Maintain linkages with national and local agencies related to flood/GLOF 

Functions of Flow Forecasting Unit (FFU) 

a.    Maintain GIS database and information required for hydrological modelling and other purposes;  
b.    Mapping and modelling of watershed using Geo-informative (GIS tools) and other tools for water resources management; 
c.    Delineation of river basins/watershed and maintain shapes files for hydrological modelling and other purposes; 
d.    Water line, and bathymetric survey of water bodies in coordination with other divisions
e.    Setup and run hydrological modelling using appropriate models and GIS tools/related software for water resources management, flood forecasting and warning. 
f.    Prepare flood and inflow forecasts of the selected river basins and sub-basins; 
g.    Prepare and provide inflow forecasting to hydropower plants and other water infrastructures;  
h.    Improve the methods, procedures and techniques in hydrological (flood) forecasting and warning;  
i.    Flood hazard mapping and risks assessment in coordination with other sections/Units/Divisions; 
j.    Documentation of floods events 
k.    Conduct public information/education on floods and other related topics in coordination with other department/division 
l.    Publication of yearly hydrological extreme event bulletin in coordination with other sections/units. 

Functions of Flood Warning Unit (FWU)

a.    Operation of Flood Monitoring and Command Room (FMCR) under the National Weather and Flood Warning Center (NWFWC) for 24/7 on shift basis; 
b.    Monitoring of hydrological real-time stations and communication facilities in Thimphu and inform relevant divisions on the malfunctions, breakdown and non-reporting of real-time data transmission from the field stations. 
c.    Monitor flood/GLOF EWS systems installed in different river basins in coordination with Basin Control Rooms; 
d.    Timely dissemination of GLOF warnings based on GLOF EWS installed along different basins; 
e.    Issue advisories and bulletins on extreme hydrological events based on weather & hydrological forecasts; 
f.    Collaborate with NEOC/DDM, Hydropower Plants other national institutions involved in flood disaster mitigation and other related activities;  
g.    Transmit flood information to the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC), Hydropower Power Plants, and related agencies as per SOP; 
h.    Secure copies of all flood-related information packages prepared by the FFU for reference, and/or issuance to interested users, agencies and the media;  
i.    Coordinate and organize emergency meeting during the flood/GLOF and other extreme events; 
j.    Inform and update the relevant line agencies on the status and developments in the event of GLOF/Flood; 
k.    Training of Control Room staff in coordination with other divisions; 
l.    Coordinate and conduct briefings for media and other interested parties on floods and other hydrological hazards, whenever necessary. 

Functions of Hydrology Information Management Section (HIMS)

a.    Receive raw data from the field stations and enter data into database, 
b.    Compile and analyse the hydrological data and water resources information relating to rivers and streams in the country,  
c.    Perform data quality and validation of hydrological time series data collected in coordination with other divisions. 
d.    Operate and maintain national hydrological database and archival system in respect of water resources, 
e.    Prepare and maintain river basin and station network maps  
f.    Publish statistical data relating to surface water and its information relating to water resources in coordination with RASS. 
g.    Dissemination of data to end users based on the request, 
h.    Publication of hydrological year book. 

Functions of Hydrology Research and Analysis Services Section  (RAS)

a.    Coordinate and conduct research in the field of hydrology and water resources such as flood forecasting, hazard mapping, climate change impacts on water resources etc. 
b.    Coordinate and conduct water resources assessment  
c.    Perform statistical analysis of hydrological time series data  
d.    Hydrological risk assessment and hazard mapping in coordination with other section/division  
e.    Hydrological and flood frequency analysis; 
f.    Provide support and technical backstopping services to other divisions/sections/units; 
g.    Publication of research papers and other;