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FRIEND-Water Regional groups

What is needed to bridge the data knowledge gap in hydrology?

EURO FRIEND

The European FRIEND (EUROFRIEND) initiative, part of the broader FRIEND-Water program, aims to advance hydrological science and contribute to global water sustainability by addressing major water-related challenges. Aligned with the UNESCO IHP-IX and WMO Hydrological Research Strategy, its objectives include:

  • Advancing fundamental and transdisciplinary water science to improve understanding of hydrological processes and their responses to climate variability and change.
  • Enhancing accessibility and integration of hydrological data at global and regional scales to support improved water management and policy decisions.
  • Understanding and forecasting hydrological extremes, such as low-flows and droughts, and their human-land-climate interactions.
  • Improving the predictability of large-scale changes and variations in hydrological characteristics (e.g., precipitation, runoff, groundwater) in the context of climate change.
  • Bridging the gap between science and practice by translating research into operational tools and decision-support frameworks.
  • Strengthening global scientific capacity through inclusive education, training, and knowledge-sharing to achieve SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and broader sustainable development goals.

 

EURO-FRIEND working groups

1.

WG1: Hydrological Observations and Data

Revitalizes and globalizes the European Water Archive by improving access to hydrological and socio-hydrological datasets, fostering integration with global networks (e.g., GTN-H, GRDC), and promoting collaboration across FRIEND regions.

2.

WG2: Low-Flow and Drought Management

Develops novel methodologies to study hydrological droughts, examines human-climate interactions, and works closely with the European Drought Centre to improve preparedness and resilience.

3.

WG3: Large-Scale Hydrological Variability

Investigates observed and projected variations in hydrological processes (e.g., precipitation, soil moisture, streamflow) using climate modes (e.g., NAO, ENSO) and collaborates with CEH, ECMWF, JRC, and IPCC-related efforts.

4.

WG4: Operationalizing Scientific Knowledge

Engages stakeholders to ensure research is practically usable, developing tools, methods, and collaborations that turn hydrological science into policy-relevant insights aligned with WMO and IHP-IX strategies.

EURO FRIEND Activities

Additionally, EUROFRIEND leads several cross-cutting initiatives, such as:

  • Hosting open-access training and seminar series via digital platforms (e.g., YouTube).
  • Promoting collaborative research via transversal working groups (e.g., on machine learning, tipping points, compound events).
  • Developing resources like online data platforms and code libraries (e.g., GRDC portal, GitHub tutorials).
  • Supporting biannual workshops and presence at major scientific conferences (e.g., EGU, IAHS, AGU).
  • Coordinating with UNESCO’s Open Learning programme to democratize access to water science training.

These combined efforts aim to build an inclusive, collaborative, and impact-driven hydrological research community, strengthening science-policy links and equipping stakeholders to manage water under uncertainty.

Regional coordinator of EURO-FRIEND

Dr. Bastien DIEPPOIS - Coventry University, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience

Contact : ab9482@coventry.ac.uk

Deputy Regional Coordinator Europe

Dr. Stephan DIETRICH - International Center for Water Resources and Global Change UNESCO Cat. II Centre

Contact: dietrich@bafg.de

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