Summary

There are 5 continental-scale studies being conducted around the world, BALTEX, GAME, MAGS, CATCH, GCIP, and LBA. The GHP will be responsible for assisting GEWEX to demonstrate skill in predicting variabilities in water resources and soil moisture on time scales up to seasonal and annual as an element of WCRP's prediction goals for the climate system. The prediction of regional precipitation and runoff anomalies over periods of several months is a possibility with improved understanding of water cycle processes.

Strategy:

Work toward the following scientific milestones with relevance to policy:

By the year 2000 quantify evaporation, precipitation and other hydrological processes as required to improve prediction of regional precipitation over periods of one to several months.

By the year 2005 predict variabilities in water resources and soil moisture on time scales of seasonal to annual as an element of WCRP's prediction goals for the climate system.