hydrometeorologische

Hydrometeorologie, commonly encountered as hydrometeorology in English, is the branch of meteorology that studies the distribution and behavior of water in the atmosphere and its interaction with the Earth's surface. It covers the life cycle of atmospheric moisture—from cloud formation and precipitation to evaporation and humidity—and how these processes feed the hydrological cycle at local, regional, and global scales. The field also includes the study of fog and cloud physics within weather systems. In German and Dutch contexts the term hydrometeorologische is used as an attributive adjective to describe related observations, forecasts, and services.

It investigates how atmospheric processes influence surface water and groundwater systems and how land and water surfaces, in turn, modify atmospheric conditions. Key topics include precipitation formation and distribution, evaporation and transpiration, runoff, infiltration, and groundwater recharge. Hydrometeorology connects weather forecasting with hydrology to predict river discharges, floods, droughts, and water resource availability.

Methods rely on observations from weather stations, rain gauges, radar and satellite remote sensing, and river and groundwater measurements, combined with numerical models. Data assimilation and ensemble forecasting integrate meteorological and hydrological models to produce probabilistic forecasts. Process studies often address cloud microphysics, convection, and moisture transport, as well as climate-change impacts on the water cycle.

Applications include flood and drought forecasting, water resources management, agricultural planning, hydroelectric operations, and urban drainage design. By linking meteorology and hydrology, hydrometeorology supports risk assessment, emergency planning, and climate-adaptation strategies at regional and national levels.