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Decision Making

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Hydrometeorology

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Abstract

Hydrometeorological forecasts are used for many applications, including issuing alerts and warnings, strategic planning, and the real time control of reservoir and other systems. To support decision making, forecasts need to be interpreted in terms which are meaningful to the end user, and which provide sufficient lead time to take effective action. Perhaps the simplest approach, but one which can require considerable consultation and discussion, is to devise purpose-made forecast products appropriate to the recipient, and to decide how best to disseminate that information in time to be useful. This can include map-based and internet-based displays, and more traditional bulletins and situation reports. More automated techniques can also be used, and can include threshold criteria, decision support systems, and a range of probabilistic techniques. Also, a risk-based approach is increasingly used in decision-making, considering both the probability of an event occurring, and the likely consequences. This chapter provides an introduction to these topics, and to the decision-making techniques used in flood warning, drought early warning, pollution alert, reservoir control and other applications.

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  1. Atkins Water, Warrington, Cheshire, UK

    Kevin Sene

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  1. Kevin Sene
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Sene, K. (2010). Decision Making. In: Hydrometeorology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3403-8_6

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