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IAEA/UNESCO JOINT INTERNATIONAL ISOTOPES IN HYDROLOGY PROGRAMME (JIIHP)

The aim of the joint IAEA-UNESCO/JIIHP initiative is to facilitate the integration of isotopes in hydrological practices through:

    - development of tools for better understanding of specific hydrological processes and improving assessment, development and management of water resources;
    - support of national, regional and international programmes in water resources;
    - incorporation of isotope hydrology as part of hydrological curricula in universities worldwide; and
    - integration of isotopic data in hydrological databases at national, regional and global scales.

What is isotope hydrology?

A panel dedicated to IAEA and isotope hydrology has been set up by the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). IAEA is one of the 23 UN partners of this programme. [PDF format]

It is expected that JIIHP will cover scientific, practical and educational aspects of relevant hydrology and water resources studies and will improve implementation and coordination of hydrological programmes of UNESCO, IAEA, WMO and other international governmental or non-governmental organizations.

The JIIHP will address both qualitative and quantitative aspects and interface processes of:

    - Surface Water (Rivers, Reservoirs, Lakes, Snow and Ice) including Flow Dynamics, Erosion, Sediment Transport and Sedimentation, and Pollution;
    - Groundwater (Saturated and Unsaturated Zones) including Assessment and Quantification of Natural and Artificial Recharge, Origin and Dynamics of Groundwater, Vulnerability and Pollution of Aquifers.
The programme will also address aspects related to :
    - Climate variability and related Atmospheric Studies;
    - Man made changes and Anthropogenic Impacts and their consequences on Water Resources;

JIIHP will service a number of international needs including the dissemination of IAEA research and applications in isotope methodologies through the UNESCO global infrastructure. This will occur primarily through IHP National Committees. The result should improve water resources assessment, development and management around the world.