INBO WEBINAR: Satellite monitoring

Context

Water is the lifeblood of our planet, essential for ecosystems, economies, and communities. Yet, managing this precious resource sustainably is becoming increasingly complex due to climate change, population growth, and competing demands. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has emerged as an operational approach to address these challenges, emphasizing the need for coordinated management of water, land, and related resources across sectors and borders, at the scale of the basins of lakes, rivers and associated aquifers. However, effective IWRM relies on a fundamental pillar: knowledge. You cannot manage what you do not measure. Accurate, timely, and comprehensive data is the cornerstone of informed decision-making, enabling stakeholders to monitor water availability, predict risks, and implement adaptive strategies.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to combine traditional in-situ monitoring networks with cutting-edge satellite-based Earth observation technologies. In-situ monitoring provides precise, localized data, while satellites offer unparalleled spatial coverage and the ability to monitor remote or inaccessible areas. Together, these tools create a powerful synergy, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of water resource assessments. For instance, satellite data can be calibrated and validated using ground-based measurements, ensuring the precision of innovative technologies like altimetry and remote sensing. This integration is particularly critical for initiatives such as the CNES SWOT Program (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), which aims to provide global measurements of surface water levels and dynamics, revolutionizing our understanding of freshwater systems.

Collaborative efforts like the INBO & WMO Task Force on Satellite Monitoring and the One Water Vision Initiative, launched at the One Water Summit in Riyadh in December 2024, underscore the global commitment to leveraging these technologies for sustainable water management. By fostering data sharing and collaboration across borders and sectors, these initiatives highlight the transformative potential of combining in-situ and satellite monitoring. This webinar will explore how a combination of in-situ and satellite monitoring can provide effective tools and services for basin managers and improve the resilience and sustainable management of water resources.

Program

• Master of Ceremony (5 min)
  Dr. Eric Tardieu, Secretary General, International Network of Basin Organizations
  (INBO)
• Introduction (5 min)
  Mr. Paul Haener, Water Information Systems Project Manager, International Office
  for Water (OiEau)
• Keynote Speaker (10 min)
  Ms. Delphine Leroux, Head of Hydrology, Continental Cryosphere, Water Cycle programs, National Centre for Space Studies (CNES)
• Panel (55 min)
  • Developing satellite technologies for water resource monitoring
    – Mr. Dominique Berod, Head of the Earth System Monitoring Division, World
    Meterological Organization (WMO)
    – Mr. Perry Oddo, Water Resources Program Coordinator National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (To be confirmed)
    – Mr. Bimal K. Bhattacharya, Head of Research Program, Indian Space Research
    Organization (ISRO) (To be confirmed)
  • Harnessing Satellite and in-situ monitoring for a resilient basin management
    – Mr. Marc Daniel Heintz, Head of Secretariat,International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)
    – Ms. Edith Paredes, Administrative Director, Amazon Cooperation Treaty
    Organization (OTCA)
    – Mr. Ahmed Ramdane Sylla, Director of Regional Infrastructure, Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS)
• Questions and answers (25 min)
• Conclusion (5 min)
  Mr. Jean-François Soussana, Vice President, International Policy, French National
  Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE)