Registration FormThis is a free event, but places are limited, so please register by 20 Sept 2013.

COMPLETE IN CAPITAL LETTERS PLEASE

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We would welcome posters to illustrate work involving NRFA/NGLA data,please give a title below if you would like to display:

The meeting will include lunch, tea and coffee. If you have any special dietary requirements please indicate below:

To register, please complete this form and post or email to:

National River Flow Archive, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB.

Tel: 01491 692599 E-mail: nrfa@ceh.ac.uk www.ceh.ac.uk/data/nrfa

NATIONAL RIVER FLOW ARCHIVENATIONAL GROUNDWATER LEVEL ARCHIVE

HYDROMETRIC DATA: THE LONG VIEW

Celebrating 30 years of the NRFA and NGLA at Wallingford

Tuesday 22nd October 201310:00 – 16:00

At the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane,Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB

In association with:

This free one-day meeting will celebrate 30 years of the NRFA and NGLA being hosted at Wallingford by reviewing the achievements of the archives, and the exploitation of this rich hydrological data resource by its broad user community. The 30 years of joint operation of the archives provides a unique long-term perspective on hydrometric data management, and hydrological research and applications more generally. The meeting is likely to be of relevance to hydrometric data managers, the research community and hydrological practitioners alike.

Current and former NRFA/NGLA staff will discuss the history of hydrometric data management, the activities of the archives and their impact, and future directions. External speakers will provide perspectives from the UK Measuring Authorities, academia and the commercial sector.

The day will also include a lunchtime poster session (we welcome posters on science/operational activities which have used NRFA/NGLA data, please indicate on the registration form overleaf if you would like to offer a poster) and demonstrations of hydrometric data systems, software and field equipment.

The early years of the 21st century have underlined both the vulnerability of the UK to hydrological extremes, and the challenges faced in reconciling the demands on our rivers and groundwater with society’s aspirations for continuing improvements to our aquatic environment. Hydrometric data provide the essential foundation for research aimed at meeting these challenges through improved river and aquifer management strategies. Technological advances in data acquisition and archiving capabilities have facilitated a much wider exploitation of hydrometric data, but data utility continues to depend on a firm commitment to high standards of data stewardship.

HistoryThe management of hydrological data at the UK scale can be traced back to the Inland Water Survey in the 1930s. In 1982 the Surface Water Archive and Groundwater Level Archive were transferred to Wallingford, under the stewardship of the Institute of Hydrology (now the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) and the British Geological Survey. The National River Flow Archive (NRFA) now has over 50,000 station-years of river flow data, from over 1500 gauging stations, with the longest records dating from the 19th century. The National Groundwater Level Archive (NGLA) holds over 9000 station-years of data from its current network of stations and one off or short period observations from over 50,000 water wells. Together the NRFA and NGLA data have underpinned much of the hydrological research and water resources management activity carried out in the UK over the last three decades. In association with:

MeetingTuesday 22nd October 201310:00 – 16:00Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

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Speakers include:John Rodda (CEH)

Terry Marsh (CEH)

Mike Lowing

Andrew McKenzie (BGS)

Rob Grew (EA)

Richard Brown (SEPA)

Colin Fenn (BHS/CIWEM)

Andrew Black (U. Dundee)