Adaptation of Seasonal Forecasting Techniques for Water Management in India

Abstract

Seasonal forecasting techniques are in vogue all over the world and are applied depending upon the region of interest and the type of problem. Many methodologies varying between statistical approach, dynamic approach and hybrid approach are adopted. In India, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issues seasonal forecasting bulletins on the national and regional scales for the monsoon season. However, there is no large-scale seasonal model available at the basin level, which is the scale for water management issues like those in storage strategies for reservoirs, reservoir sedimentation and contingency planning for floods and drought. In the present paper, many techniques applied all over the world in the realm of Seasonal forecasting for water management are reviewed for adaptation towards the Indian context, along with a hint at their process of operationalisation.