In collaboration with the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMHI acronym in Spanish) and with the aim of improving Ecuador’s capacity to deal with extreme hydrometeorological events, Fundación EcoCiencia, within the framework of the SERVIR Amazonia program, has contributed to the development of the INAMHI GEOGLOWS platform. This tool integrates the global GEOGLOWS model and statistically adjusts it with data obtained from INAMHI stations, offering meteorological forecasts and hydrological alerts customized for the local context.
The platform was initially conceived to support key institutions such as the Ecuadorian Risk Secretariat, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Energy through the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMHI). Its use has been fundamental for monitoring hydrological conditions and analyzing the amount of water in reservoirs, essential for the operation of hydroelectric stations. In addition, provincial governments have used the platform to evaluate water situations and plan risk management in their territories.
After a prolonged period of drought in the country, the use of the platform for flood monitoring and hydrological analysis required adjustments to expand its functionality, allowing the incorporation of monitoring of hot spots and fires through the GOES satellite, as well as the analysis of consecutive days without precipitation. This update caught the attention of the Ministry of the Environment and its Amazonia Sin Fuegos (PAFS) program, which readjusted the use of the tool continuously, thanks to the capacity of the GOES satellite to update data every 10 minutes.
At the time, the INAMHI GEOGLOWS platform became the only tool in the country capable of carrying out real-time monitoring of fires and hot spots, which positioned it as an indispensable resource for emergency management and environmental risk management. No other institution in Ecuador has a similar tool, adding that it has the capacity to integrate other analyses from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for the analysis, which further highlighted its value and effectiveness.
For its part, the Ministry of Energy requested the daily issuance of automatic bulletins that report the analysis of the amount of water in the important reservoirs for the country, crucial information to guarantee the optimal operation of hydroelectric stations and ensure the energy supply in the country. These reports allow for better planning and management of water resources.
Likewise, the Secretariat of Risks and the Geological Mining Research Institute expressed the need to receive regular bulletins to monitor areas at risk of landslides, such as in the area of Río Verde, province of Tungurahua. The INAMHI GEOGLOWS platform has become a tool adaptable to the needs of Ecuador, providing key information for decision-making and the prevention of natural disasters.