The fifth of the eight long-term ambitions on water aims to reduce the gap between research and operational hydrology applications, and improve the understanding of Earth system science and how the hydrological system responds to extreme conditions, as outlined in the WMO Vision and Strategy on Hydrology. Scientific knowledge should be strengthened to support operational hydrological predictions and modeling as part of an integrated Earth systems approach. The development of operational services must consider the state of knowledge of water resources and current and future pressures on them. On the other hand, fundamental research should be tailored to user needs, adopting an applied research approach.
The Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) project is part of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and is focused on understanding Earth’s water cycle and energy fluxes both below and at the surface and in the atmosphere. It plays a crucial role in observing and modeling the hydrological cycle and energy fluxes. Additionally, the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) is in the process of establishing a program on integrated hydrology and precipitation (InPHRA). This program aims to further study hydrology and precipitation by integrating various aspects to enhance our understanding of these systems.