Hydrology and Water Resources Management Data system

This national data system contains detailed information on the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources around Finland.

It is compiled using observations of:

• key hydrological processes: precipitation, evaporation, discharge and runoff
• water levels in lakes and rivers
• other hydrological phenomena. including the water equivalent of snow, ice thickness and water temperatures

The data system incorporates a hydrological database, a user interface with a watershed simulation and forecasting system, and other information and programmes designed to support the various uses of water bodies. The system’s hydrological database contains observed or calculated values for 12 distinct parameters, obtained from a total of around 4,800 measuring sites or areas. The whole system contains a total of some 89 million observational records, with 76,000 more added every day.

The oldest unbroken time series of water level data stretch all the way back to 1847. In most cases observations are taken daily. The system’s data sources include observations taken by the environmental administration or other holders of water resource users’ rights, observations purchased by agreement from other organisations (mainly precipitation values obtained from the Finnish Meteorological Institute), and data simulated using river basin modelling.

The data system is used to depict and evaluate the current state of Finland’s water resources, and support many aspects of the sustainable use and management of Finland’s water resources. Data can be used in making hydrological forecasts for river basins, as background material for policy makers, in the planning of water protection measures, and in many research fields.

The system is very widely used within Finland’s environmental administration, but its database and calculation services are also well used outside the administration. Major users and data contributors include Finland’s 15 new regional centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY centres).

• Ms. Johanna Korhonen, hydrologist,
  e-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi [johanna korhonen]
• Mr. Hannu Sirviö, research engineer,
  e-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi [hannu sirvio]

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