Hidrometeorology

Hydrometeorology, also known as hidrometeorología in some languages, is the scientific discipline that studies the transfer of water and energy between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. It encompasses the atmospheric portion of the hydrological cycle, including precipitation in its various forms, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, cloud formation, and the transport and storage of atmospheric moisture. The field connects meteorology and hydrology to understand how weather processes influence water resources and surface runoff, and how land and water surfaces alter weather and climate through feedbacks.

Data and methods: It relies on observations from rain gauges, weather radars, satellite remote sensing, weather stations, and atmospheric soundings, as well as numerical models that couple atmospheric physics with land-surface or hydrological processes. Hydrometeorologists use data assimilation, ensemble forecasting, and model intercomparison to estimate precipitation, soil moisture, runoff, and river discharge.

Applications: Forecasting and managing water resources, flood and drought risk assessment, irrigation planning, reservoir operations, urban drainage design, and climate impact studies. Hydrometeorology provides inputs for early warning systems and informs decision-making in agriculture, urban planning, and emergency management.

Challenges: The field faces uncertainties due to spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, scale mismatches between atmospheric processes and watershed response, and gaps in observation networks. Ongoing developments include higher-resolution models, improved radar and satellite precipitation estimates, data assimilation techniques, and assessments of climate change impacts on the hydrological cycle.