SPI-CIS WFD: Using knowledge exchange to improve end-user participation

Too often the knowledge resources of research scientists are under exploited, and there is a need for better engagement with policy makers, industry, and other stakeholders. Water scarcity, both quantity and quality, is an issue facing many end-users and the tools for prediction and management need to be based on the most recent and relevant science available. A strong cooperation between the research community and end-users is needed and this role can be filled by coherent knowledge exchange. This concept is at times poorly recognised but can be a quite powerful means to deliver science results to key users. There is a need for changing the perception of research outputs as peer review work and the correct language is important here. By providing the peer review journal results in a readily readable format opens the door for more general discussions on the needs of the end-users. At present we are fortunate to have a wide variety of communication tools to call on, from social media (YouTube, twitter etc.) to traditional print publications in order to communicate with diverse audiences. A recently finished 5 year project WATCH (Water and Global Change) has used a number of these media to communicate projects findings. This approach of summarising the findings in one report plus YouTube and specialised websites has greatly increased the visibility of the project and its impact. The result of this extra effort has led to a significant amount of global attention. This greater awareness of the project results and findings has facilitated dialogues between researchers and end-users. New partnerships have been established with industry that has previously not had a history of functioning with researchers directly. The benefits of more traditional meetings that unite different end-users in a common dialogue or workshop event should not be under estimated. Researchers are providing scientific information to underpin future policy however, industry and other key players in the chain need to work alongside researchers to integrate these findings. Bringing together policy makers, industry, retail and research communities in a single discussion aimed at establishing and promoting a constructive dialogue between these different sectors, can lead to greater understanding and generate lasting solutions. A recently completed workshop on Nitrogen pollution provides a case study of how such an event can drive action and highlight the research needs for industry, but also ensure relevance of future policy. Such an open dialogue is immensely valuable as its outcomes are based on the views from different sectors. Uniting these different sectors can be challenging but providing a platform where researchers, retailers and policy makers can discuss their points of view is indispensable for addressing the environmental challenges of today. The benefits of sound Knowledge Exchange should be recognised as a two way discussion with the research community providing data and understanding of the issues and stakeholder/managers helping to drive the future questions and new areas of research

Coupled Effects of Small-Scale Turbulence and Phytoplankton Biomass in a Small Stratified Lake

Recent laboratory studies demonstrated that small-scale fluid motion mediates phytoplankton physiological responses. We have investigated to what extent the laboratory studies are consistent to field measurements in a small stratified lake. We propose the rate of energy dissipation and corresponding Kolmogorov velocity are important scaling variables that describe the enhanced algal growth and the uptake of nutrients in a moving fluid under laboratory and field conditions. The ratio of nutrient flux to an alga in a moving fluid versus the nutrient flux in a stagnant fluid (Sherwood number) is quantified by the ratio of advective nutrient transport to molecular diffusion of nutrient (Péclet number, PeK). The advective transport of nutrients is described by the layer-averaged Kolmogorov velocity (u˜K). An enhanced algal growth due to fluid motion is proposed over the Péclet number range 6.7>PeK>1.3 with the maximal growth at PeK=2.9. Field measurements recorded by microstructure profiler demonstrated encouraging agreement between laboratory and field findings. The mechanistic models of phytoplankton population dynamics could consider the proposed Péclet number with redefined characteristic velocity scale (u˜K) in the formulation of sub-grid scale closure fluxes on nutrient uptake and growth rate. Furthermore, the laboratory and field results presented in this study are intend to motivate researchers to question the validity of standard laboratory bio-toxicity protocols and to modify the existing procedures in the examination of effluent toxicity in the environment by including the fluid motion

A review of methods to derive a Global Outlook product for the Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS)

Report for World Meteorological Organization

Phosphorus enrichment of the oligotrophic River Rede (Northumberland, UK) has no effect on periphyton growth rate

Reducing phosphorus (P) loading to rivers is seen as a key mitigation measure to improve aquatic ecology and control excessive algal growth, as P is widely assumed to be the limiting nutrient in most rivers. Nutrient enrichment experiments using within-river flume mesocosms were conducted in the oligotrophic River Rede, to determine how periphyton accrual was affected by increasing P concentrations. Increasing the soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration from the ambient concentration of 15 µg L-1 to concentrations ranging from 30 µg L-1 to 130 µg L-1 had no significant effect of periphyton growth rate, demonstrating that the periphyton was not P limited, even in this nutrient poor river. However, at SRP concentrations greater than 100 µg L-1, diatom communities shifted to species that were more tolerant of higher nutrient concentrations. Elemental analysis showed that there was a positive linear relationship between biofilm P content and the SRP concentration in the overlying water. This ability to store P suggests that periphyton growth is being limited by a secondary factor (such as nitrogen (N)) and may provide a mechanism by which future periodic increases in N concentration may stimulate periphyton growth. Flow velocity, light, and invertebrate grazing pressure also have important roles in controlling periphyton biomass in the River Rede

The African SWIFT project: growing science capability to bring about a revolution in weather prediction

Africa is poised for a revolution in the quality and relevance of weather predictions, with potential for great benefits in terms of human and economic security. This revolution will be driven by recent international progress in nowcasting, numerical weather prediction, theoretical tropical dynamics and forecast communication, but will depend on suitable scientific investment being made. The commercial sector has recognized this opportunity and new forecast products are being made available to African stakeholders. At this time, it is vital that robust scientific methods are used to develop and evaluate the new generation of forecasts. The GCRF African SWIFT project represents an international effort to advance scientific solutions across the fields of nowcasting, synoptic and short-range severe weather prediction, subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction, user engagement and forecast evaluation. This paper describes the opportunities facing African meteorology and the ways in which SWIFT is meeting those opportunities and identifying priority next steps. Delivery and maintenance of weather forecasting systems exploiting these new solutions requires a trained body of scientists with skills in research and training; modelling and operational prediction; communications and leadership. By supporting partnerships between academia and operational agencies in four African partner countries, the SWIFT project is helping to build capacity and capability in African forecasting science. A highlight of SWIFT is the coordination of three weather-forecasting “Testbeds” – the first of their kind in Africa – which have been used to bring new evaluation tools, research insights, user perspectives and communications pathways into a semi-operational forecasting environment