Experts from the
Netherlands are assisting Kazakhstan in developing and improving forecasting
and early warning systems, as well as flood risk management. This is the third
time the experts have visited the country to work with their Kazakh counterparts
to develop effective solutions for both preventing and minimizing the
consequences of floods. In particular, the experts suggested using satellite
data in cases where information is insufficient and not all areas are covered
by hydrometeorological ground stations. This will not only allow for monitoring
water movements but also for assessing its volumes in remote areas, the
analysts note. As a result, this will significantly enhance forecasting
capabilities and water resource management.
«In Kazakhstan, some
of these models and techniques already exist, but they can be upscaled and
expanded to other areas as well. And we are looking at ways how to do this. And
that comes down again to having good information of the current situation and
using understanding of physics and hydrological processes. This is basically
what early warning is all about. So, to give early triggers of when it could
become critical somewhere and connect those to certain actions which you can
then take to minimize or mitigate harmful impacts,» noted Fredrik Huthoff, the
leader of the Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction and Surge Support (DRRS) team.
«Our Dutch partners
are currently analyzing the hydrological situation in Kazakhstan. They have
already suggested accelerating interaction with other states, organizations and
government agencies, and introducing more effective forms of information
exchange. These measures will improve the efficiency of responses to such
situations,» said Galymzhan Kambarbekov, the chief expert of the department,
the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
Web-editor: Гайни Жумабек
Related Articles
