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Alberta Environment’sAlberta Environment’sRiver Forecast CentreRiver Forecast Centre
Presentation to the UNSTABLE Workshop Presentation to the UNSTABLE Workshop
Edmonton, AlbertaEdmonton, AlbertaApril 18, 2007April 18, 2007
Ray Keller Ray Keller Team Leader, Flow ForecastingTeam Leader, Flow ForecastingWater Management OperationsWater Management Operations
North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton – June 2005North Saskatchewan River at Edmonton – June 2005
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What River Forecasting DoesWhat River Forecasting Does
1.1. Real-time monitoring and reportingReal-time monitoring and reporting
2.2. Water Management Water Management
3.3. Infrastructure ManagementInfrastructure Management
4.4. Water Supply ForecastingWater Supply Forecasting
5.5. Flood ForecastingFlood Forecasting
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1. What do we monitor and report?1. What do we monitor and report?
Real-time dataReal-time data
• Stream levels and flowsStream levels and flows
• Lake and reservoir levelsLake and reservoir levels
• PrecipitationPrecipitation
• SnowpackSnowpack
• Temperature, wind, humidityTemperature, wind, humidity
• Water qualityWater quality
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Data NetworksData Networks
• Over Over 350350 Hydrometric Stations (Water Levels/Flows) Hydrometric Stations (Water Levels/Flows)
• Over Over 420420 Meteorologic Stations Meteorologic Stations • (AENV, EC, AAFRD, TransAlta, SRD)(AENV, EC, AAFRD, TransAlta, SRD)
• 117117 Snow Course Locations Snow Course Locations• 1515 Automated Snow PillowsAutomated Snow Pillows
Most stations (except snow courses) report hourly dataMost stations (except snow courses) report hourly dataCurrently takes Currently takes twotwo man days per day to QA/QC real-time data man days per day to QA/QC real-time data
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Real-time Real-time Hydrometric StationsHydrometric Stations
• Over Over 350 350 currentlycurrently
• Stream, lake, reservoir levelsStream, lake, reservoir levels
• Satellite/phone linksSatellite/phone links
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Real-time Real-time Meteorological StationsMeteorological Stations
~ 218 ~ 218 Federal and Federal and ProvincialProvincial
Hourly DataHourly Data• PrecipitationPrecipitation
• TemperatureTemperature
• Relative humidityRelative humidity
• Wind speedWind speed
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ALBERTA
NORTH WEST TERRITORIES
SASK
ATC
HEW
AN
ALBE
RTA
ALBE
RTA
River
River
Bow
River
Provost
Camrose
Stettler
High Level
Jasper
Banff
Lesser Slave Lake
ColdLake
Athabasca
Lake
Grande Prairie
Peace River
Red Deer
Edmonton
Fort McMurray
Medicine Hat
Calgary
Lethbridge
Forestry Forestry Meteorological StationsMeteorological Stations
• ~ 190~ 190 stationsstations
• Mostly in northMostly in north
• Most report 2x-dailyMost report 2x-daily
• Some report 1x-dailySome report 1x-daily
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Snow Course SitesSnow Course Sites
71 Plains
46 Mountain
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U. S. A.
ColdLake
STETTLERPROVOST
CAMROSEJASPER
BANFF
River
Deer
RiverMilk
River
RiverNorth
Red
Saskatchewan
Battle
Lloydminster
Medicine Hat
Lethbridge
Red Deer
Calgary
Edmonton
SUNSHINE VILLAGE
LITTLE ELBOW
THREE ISLE LAKE MT. ODLUM III
TWIN LAKES
PADDLE RIVER HEADWATERS
LIMESTONE
AKAMINA
FLATTOP MANY GLACIER
SOUTH RACE HORSE
GARDINER HEADWATERS
LOST CREEK
SKOKI MOUNTAIN
Snow PillowsSnow Pillows
• 1313 Mountain SitesMountain Sites (new site at South Esk)(new site at South Esk)
• 33 Plains Area SitesPlains Area Sites (new site in Swan Hills)(new site in Swan Hills)
USESUSES• Snow-on-groundSnow-on-ground
• Snow / Rain indicatorsSnow / Rain indicators
• Melt ratesMelt rates
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Oldman River at Lethbridge – June 2005Oldman River at Lethbridge – June 2005
How can UNSTABLE help?How can UNSTABLE help?
Variety of Flood ConditionsVariety of Flood Conditions
SnowmeltSnowmelt Plains - March - AprilPlains - March - April
• Only smaller streams affected (Paddle, Battle, Vermilion, etc)Only smaller streams affected (Paddle, Battle, Vermilion, etc)• Ice jamsIce jams
Mountains - May - JulyMountains - May - July• No flooding of major rivers by mountain snowmelt aloneNo flooding of major rivers by mountain snowmelt alone
RainfallRainfall• Affects all rivers in AlbertaAffects all rivers in Alberta• Flooding along major rivers is caused by heavy rainfall or heavy rainfall Flooding along major rivers is caused by heavy rainfall or heavy rainfall
during mountain snowmeltduring mountain snowmelt
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Contributions to UNSTABLEContributions to UNSTABLE
• Current meteorological sites in areaCurrent meteorological sites in area• Proposed new sites for 2008 (approx. location)Proposed new sites for 2008 (approx. location)
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OpportunitiesOpportunities
• Alberta Environment will share all data in areaAlberta Environment will share all data in area
• Opportunity to put additional sensors at existing locations if Opportunity to put additional sensors at existing locations if requiredrequired
• Very interested in results of studyVery interested in results of study• AENV is heavily reliant on accurate weather forecasting AENV is heavily reliant on accurate weather forecasting
for their functionsfor their functions
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Questions?Questions?
Near Barrhead – March 2007Near Barrhead – March 2007