WSKEP news

The Natural Research Environment Council (NERC) has published their annual Impact Report which shows how NERC science brings sustained benefits to theeconomy and society, driving UK productivity and competitiveness while building a safer, wealthier and more secure world.

December was a remarkably dry month for most of the UK, with mild temperatures bookended by two cold and frosty periods. The majority of the UK received below average rainfall, with much of England and Wales receiving less than half of the long-term average. It was particularly dry in southern England, further extending the rainfall deficiencies which have developed here since early summer. December river flows were below normal across much of the UK, and exceptionally low in most catchments in southern England. Groundwater level recessions continued in many index boreholes and were generally in the normal range or below, with notably low levels in parts of southern England. Reservoir stocks fell relative to average in many impoundments and were substantially below average in some regions, particularly in southern England where stocks have declined steeply since the summer. Stocks at Ardingly were 40% below average, the third lowest December stocks (after 2011 and 2003) in a series from 1987. A continuation of the below average rainfall received since the early summer and a further delay in aquifer recharge could have a significant impact on the water resources outlook in 2017. Particular vigilance is required in those parts of the UK with seasonally depressed groundwater levels and below average reservoir stocks, where any recovery will start from a below-normal baseline.

Read the full Summary here.

River flows across the majority of the UK are likely to be normal to below normal in January and over the first three months of the year.  This signal is particularly strong in most of southern and eastern England, where below normal flows are more likely than those in the normal range for both timeframes.  The groundwater outlook for the Chalk of southern England for both January and January-March is for below normal levels.  In January, for other aquifers and regions of the UK the outlook shows substantial regional variability.  The three-month outlook is for above normal groundwater levels in southern Scotland and normal to below normal levels further south.

Read the full Outlook here

How can planners, developers and communities work together to build safer places for the future?

Wednesday 1 February 2017, one day conference & evening reception

Every year thousands of homes, businesses and people are affected by flooding.  At the National Flood Forum we support people living with flood risk and they tell us that one of their main concerns is proposals for development that will increase their flood risk.

Whether it’s new, planned or permitted development, or the threat of flooding from existing new builds, people are worried that their lives will be placed at risk.

Yet with a growing population, an increasing demand for housing, an ageing infrastructure and the effects of climate change, the impact of flooding is likely to increase and with it the human and economic costs.

So, what can we do now to make sure we’re planning and building flood resilient communities for the future?  How can planners, developers and local people work together to ensure that existing and new developments are sustainable – not just today, but in 30 years-time?

Are we planning to flood? will be an opportunity to address these issues.

More information and booking information here

Simulation modelling to determine the spatial sources of flood waters for development of natural flood-risk management schemes

Durham University, Department of Geography In partnership with Newcastle University, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology and The Rivers Trust. Closing 20th January 2017.

More information here

Flooding Landscapes: Understanding the hydrological and economic landscapes to enable spatial targeting of natural flood risk reduction measures

Durham University, Department of Geography. Closing 16th January 2017.

More information here

Enabling spatially targeted diffuse pollution mitigation with drones, SCIMAP and decision support tools (Ref IAP-16-105)

Durham University, Department of Geography In partnership with University of Stirling. Closing 20th January 2017.

More information here

The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, in collaboration with the British Hydrological Society have released their report on the winter floods 2015/2016 in the UK. The review brings together both river flow and meteorological data in an analysis of the events that led to extensive river flooding in northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of Wales.

Find out more and download the report here

The not-for-profit group, Waterwise has asserted that there is a need to “generate a water-saving culture” and promote water efficiency throughout the UK in order to combat the serious challenges that await, including the challenges of reduced supply and increased demand.

In a wide-ranging report, the organisation said this could be achieved through a large-scale combined communication campaign, which would need the involvement of water companies, government and other key stakeholders.

Read the full story here.

Recent flooding in Yorkshire and other parts of the UK has highlighted the need for improved flood management techniques and infrastructure to mitigate the increasing frequency and magnitude of flood events.  In addition to the continued use of hard engineering techniques to protect areas from flood impacts, recent policies and government advice has recommended that more ‘natural’ and sustainable flood management techniques should be employed, where possible, to help deliver flood risk management.  

This studentship will address the lack of robust, empirical BACI- style evidence currently limiting NFM research by utilising novel environmental tracer techniques to determine if NFM measures can delay, reduce and desynchronise the flood hydrograph and therefore reduce flood risk.  The student will address questions such as: which NFM measures are most effective in reducing flood risk, and how do antecedent conditions affect flood risk and NFM effectiveness? 

More information here: http://www.nercdtp.leeds.ac.uk/projects/index.php?id=534

The Physical Geography research group at the University of Birmingham (http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/water/index.aspx) is advertising a number of NERC-funded PhD projects in the CENTA DTP. Projects range from meteorology to hydrology to geomorphology to ecology. 

Applications close on 23rd January 2017.  

More information can be found here: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/gees/geog-environ-sciences.aspx

Numerous flooding events in the UK over recent decades have highlighted the need for a range of flood mitigation measures.This PhD project will look at the impact of LWD on in-stream nutrient cycling processes. The results will inform future catchment management options by providing a detailed understanding of the impact of LWD on nutrient cycling. Furthermore, taken together with information from the existing project on flood mitigation, the results will provide the first integrated summary of the impact of LWD on rivers and streams prone to flooding. This is an important step change in knowledge that will allow policy makers and catchment managers to deploy LWD in future with a much better understanding of the likely consequences.

The closing date is 9^th December.

More information here.

Following an exceptionally dry October across the majority of the UK, the outlook for November is for river flows to be below normal to normal across the UK, with below normal flows more likely in the south and east. Below normal to normal flows are likely to persist across the south and east of the UK over the next three to six months. Groundwater levels are expected to be within the normal range, except in areas of the southern Chalk which are likely to be below normal over the next three months.

Read the full Hydrological Outlook here.

Hosted at: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Closing data: Monday 2nd January 2017

Hydrological events, local hydraulics, plant growth and management are all key components in the seasonal trapping, production and release of fine sediments. However, there is still limited process understanding and quantification of (i) storage and release mechanisms of fine sediment within the river bed (ii) trapping efficiencies of different types of bed substrate, (iii) role of biofilms and macrophytes, and (iv) distance travelled by fine sediment once released. The proposed project builds on current research expertise at CEH focused on both experimental and field measurements and the development of three-dimensional hydraulic modelling. 

Find out more and apply here.

"With high pressure dominating for most of the month, October was notably dry for most of the UK. Although there were warm spells, easterly winds brought temperatures close to the seasonal average. There was a good deal of autumn sunshine, although there were regional variations: it was exceptionally sunny in north-west Scotland, while sunshine was near-average in the east."2

Read the full Hydrological Summary here.

With the first anniversary of the Winter 2015/2016 floods approaching, the Know Your Flood Risk campaign has launched a new edition of its free Homeowners’ Guide to Flood Resilience, which has been created by former flood victims, Mary Dhonau OBE and Carly Rose, to provide practical guidance on the steps required to make a home resilient to flood water.

Find out more here.

Fully Funded PhD Studentship

Deadline for applications: 11 November 2016

As part of a major peatland restoration programme called MoorLIFE 2020 operating in the Peak District and South Pennines of England, a trial will be set up by the PhD student to study pipe blocking impacts that inform future best practice for restoration work. The project will be done in close collaboration with Moors for the Future who are co-funding the studentship and can provide the groundworks to support the project.

Find out more details here.

The South African National Committee of the International Association of Hydrological Scientists (SANCIAHS) invites you to participate in the 2017 IAHS General Assembly to be held on 10-14 July 2017 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The theme of the meeting is "Water and Development: scientific challenges in addressing societal issues” which is particularly appropriate in the context of an IAHS General Assembly meeting being held for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa and is well aligned with the IAHS Panta Rhei.

More information about this event can be found here.

A BBC environmental analyst says, "Hundreds of thousands of householders in flood risk areas have failed to install basic protection against rising waters, insurers say". The Association of British Insurers said even buildings guarded by flood defences should have flood-proof doors in case embankments are over-topped

Some of these tensions around flood policy are revealed in a little publicised report to government that ministers plan to launch in coming weeks. Find out more here.

The UK’s rivers, due to the variability of our climate from year to year and associated extreme weather events, are prone to flooding and periods of drought and water scarcity. Making robust predictions of these impacts is critical to developing effective planning and management of our precious water resources both for now and in the future.

This PhD project will address a critical aspect of improving our conceptualisation of river catchments, namely where groundwater is a critical component of the hydrological cycle and how it interacts with the near-surface hydrological processes. In the context of the UK, better representations of groundwater dynamics in hydrological models will be particularly important in south-east England; here major aquifers provide high quality water into public supply for millions of people, in addition to supporting important aquatic ecosystems. 

Find out more here.

The outlook for October is for river flows to be within the normal range for the majority of the UK; the exception is for Wales where flows are likely to be normal to above normal. Over the three month period to December 2016, river flows are likely to be normal with the exception of the eastern side of Scotland and north east England where flows are likely to be normal to below normal. Groundwater levels are most likely to be normal except for aquifers around the border between England and Scotland where levels are likely to remain above normal.

Read the full Outlook here.

A major water research initiative between UK and India researchers launches today.

The new virtual India-UK Water Centre, is managed by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and aims to stimulate research collaboration to address water availability and sustainable water management issues in both countries.

Water researchers and stakeholders are invited to register on the centre's website to join the new Open Network of India-UK Water Scientists. This will ensure they are kept up-to-date with activities, funding calls, joint stakeholder workshops and are able to help shape and participate in the centre’s activities.

For more information visit the India-UK Water Centre