Research and development within hydrology
SMHI has a long tradition of operational hydrological modelling including forecasts of water discharge, fire hazard, design of dams and dam regulation routines, flood risk, water quality and substance transport and the effects of climate change on hydrology and water quality.
The hydrological research unit is engaged in numerous research projects, commissioned work and continuous development of the SMHI work-flow for hydrological forecasts and assessments. The work is often user-driven and performed in collaboration with external partners in Sweden, Europe or other parts of the world.
In addition, we produce open data from our computational systems and open source codes for hydrological modelling. The unit also has a number of areas that are in scientific focus.
The hydrological research unit has commissions at national and international levels, including IAHS, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, NHF, Nordic Association of Hydrology and SHR, The Swedish Hydrological Council.
Open data – World wide hydrological predictions
Scientific publications from SMHIs hydrological research unit
We publish our research in international peer-reviewed journals and in SMHI reports. The two most recent publications are shown below.
How good is my drought index?
A. Shyrokaya, F. Pappenberger, G. Messori, Ilias Pechlivanidis, H. Cloke, G. Di Baldassarre
UAS hydrometry
Zhen Zhou, Laura Riis-Klinkvort, Emilie Ahrnkiel Jorgensen, Daniel Haugard Olesen, Alexander Rietz Vesterhauge, Monica Coppo Frias, Makar Lavish, Sune Nielsen, David Gustafsson, Daniel Wennerberg, Jenny Axén, Viktor Fagerström, Peter Bauer-Gottwein
Research news
Building resilience through effective operational flood forecasting and alerts – One year of co-development in Burkina Faso
Since the beginning of 2024, SMHI has been running a project aiming to support in improving the flood forecast and early warning system for Burkina Faso. The project builds on the multiple prior projects that created the FANFAR system for flood forecasts in West Africa. This year’s work has included model development a...
Co-development kick-off continues decade-long collaboration in West Africa
SMHI and AGRHYMET join forces in a new project aimed at co-developing a multi-model platform for operational forecasting of hydro-climatic extremes in West Africa. In October three days of efficient co-development kicked off this next episode of the long collaboration between SMHI and AGRHYMET.
A new approach for flood warnings is being tested in Ethiopia
Extreme weather is expected to increase with a changing climate. Not least in Ethiopia, where floods and landslides are a major concern. As an important step in climate adaptation, a new approach for flood warnings is being tested during this year's rainy season, from June to September. "It's a great success", says Ric...