Hydrology
Our hydrologists use detailed data sources, computer modelling
packages and other resources in order to maintain and develop
successful water management strategies for Scotland. Our hydrology
team play a key role in ensuring the safe, environmentally sound
and sustainable management of natural and domestic water
resources. SEPA's hydrology team of 93 scientists is based in
eight of our offices: Dingwall, Elgin, Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh,
Galashiels, Dumfries and East Kilbride.
Analysis
The team operates 440 river gauging stations, 120 river and loch
level monitoring stations, and 550 rain gauges. These are
distributed throughout Scotland including the islands. The 440
river gauging stations are calibrated to produce 160,000 mean daily
discharges for the year, and the rain gauges produce 200,000 days
of rainfall data across Scotland. Many of these stations have been
in place for a long time, such as Woodend on the River Dee since
1938, and the time series data is essential for understanding
trends and environmental change. The data derived from the network
of stations forms the basis of statistical analysis and forecasting
to support flood warning and advice on water resources and flood
risk.
Areas of work
Our hydrologists support SEPA's environmental outcomes and are
involved in various areas of our work.
Flood risk hydrology staff provide expert flood risk advice to
internal staff, external partners, organisations, companies and
members of the public. Flood risk hydrologists also act as
statutory consultees to local authority planning departments.
The flood warning unit was established in November 2001, when
Floodline was operationally introduced into SEPA. Since then the
role of the unit has expanded from the support of the Floodline
service to include the role of flood warning improvements and
training and the development of coastal and fluvial flood warning
strategies. The role of the unit has further increased through
supporting the flood warning dissemination scoping study and
supporting the Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum for
Environmental Research (SNIFFER) in a number of research and
development opportunities.
Groundwater is a controlled water and, as such, SEPA has a duty
to protect it from pollution. Over the last few years SEPA has set
up national groundwater quality monitoring networks. In the absence
of an abstraction licensing system as in other parts of the UK, the
Environment Act 1995 provides the only mechanism for SEPA to
promote the conservation of groundwater resources by monitoring
groundwater level. Without a strong driver for groundwater resource
protection, SEPA's groundwater level monitoring network is limited.
However, the Water Framework Directive, which introduces a
requirement for SEPA to consider groundwater quantity as well as
quality, will require that this level monitoring network be
expanded and reviewed.
Hydrology is actively involved in the research and development
of topics that help us understand and improve our business. We work
with our research and development partners such as SNIFFER, the
Flood Risk Management Research Consortium (FRMRC) and academic
institutions we are able to gain access to further resources.
Hydrology staff also take part and lead on many projects and
task groups within SEPA aimed at improving service and operational
standards. Listed below are the project updates and necessary
information designed to keep all hydrology staff informed about
ongoing project intent, status and progress:
- Archived Project Folders
- Extreme Rainfall Alerts (Met Office)
- Flood Warning Dissemination
- Flood Warning Systems Management Group
- Green Projects
- North East Flood Early Warning Schemes.