1 Large Scale Hydrology |
Large transboundary basins with diverse climate, landscapes and growing human footprint |
Innovative flexible modeling tools for a diverse landscape with rivers with complex hydrodynamics and reservoirs |
2 Remote Sensing |
Unique ecosystems composed of dense tropical forests, huge wetlands, savannah and semiarid with low density of in situ monitoring |
Innovative applications (rivers, bathymetry, water quality, ET and agriculture water uses) with validation and merging satellite datasets to understand hydrological diversity, ecosystems functioning and human footprint |
3 Floods in Brazil |
Complex flood drivers due to diverse climate and land use variability |
There is a spatial coherent pattern of flood change that can be attributed to different flood generating mechanisms that have not been fully explored |
4 Disasters |
Small and steep basins often associated with high population density and rapid hydrological disasters. High density of hydropower and tailing dams |
Disasters reduction relies mainly on a comprehensive policy for data collection and availability |
5 Ecohydrology |
Diversity of tropical ecosystems that have been underrepresented in global monitoring networks |
There is a need for tailor made technology and methods for the contrasting ecosystems and hydrological responses |
6 Hydrological Models |
The diverse set of catchments are an opportunity for the identification of strengths and weaknesses of hydrological models |
While different modeling philosophies are adopted, the community would benefit from a common modeling framework for rigorously testing hydrological models |
7 Hydrosedimentological Modeling |
Extreme erosion and sediments transport rates at a diverse and data scarce region |
Developments on modelling tools focused on the dynamics of tropical regions |
8 Hydrological Forecasting |
A unique integrated system of large reservoirs spanning a variety of climates and hydrological behaviors |
Potential for the development of forecasting techniques for a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, with remote sensing and better field scale real time data paramount to support operational systems. |
9 Environmental Fluid Mechanics |
Strong diurnal variations in reservoirs in contrast to temperate regions. Large heterogeneous water bodies motivate increasing use of modeling. |
While there is a strong focus on field studies, there is an absence of systematic long-term measurements of basic parameters, which are critical for understanding recent land-use, climate change and the impact of large infrastructure |
10 Reservoir Operation |
Massive number of reservoirs with coordinated operation for hydropower and increasing conflicts with other water uses and flooding. |
Unique knowledge from documented experiences of operation of complex systems of reservoirs |
11 Hydroelectricity |
Electricity generation relies on a continental-scale interconnected hydropower system |
The understanding of how diverse and nonstationary river regimes affect hydropower-based systems |
12 Hydroclimatic Variability |
Diverse responses to teleconnections and varied climates over 38 latitude degrees long territory |
Climate and hydrology research questions are shared with 10 countries in two of the largest transboundary basins in the world |
13 Impacts of Climate Change |
A variety of climate change impacts on water resources, from extreme dry to extreme wet conditions |
Projections of a drier north and wetter south of Brazil, but large uncertainties and sensitivity of water resources managements to climate change needs to be accessed |
14 Economic Instruments for Water Resources Management |
Sophisticated National Water Resources Management System. User engagement, bottom up management and the perception of the value of water are being internalized |
Even though the regulatory and institutional framework lacks flexibility and an adaptive management approach, there is enough expertise to drive change |
15 Water, Energy and Food Nexus |
One of the largest food producer, with a rich ecosystem and water resources, and highly water dependent energy matrix |
Development of a series of innovative soil and conservation practices based on a forest code, a water policy and a clean energy matrix |
16 Water Resources Education |
A wide range of education programs focused on water resources, from PhD, Master, engineering and including Technical Course in Hydrology. |
Difficulty of national-level curricula unification due to different regional interests and contrasting infrastructure across educational institutions. |