Dr Miguel A Rico-Ramirez

The quantitative measurement and forecasting of precipitation is crucial for predicting and mitigating the effects of flood-producing storms. The main goal in flood forecasting is to provide reliable information to the general public, local authorities, and emergency services under the threat of potential flooding. Although significant progress has been made in the measurement and forecasting of precipitation using weather radars and numerical weather prediction models, there is a need to improve the estimation and forecasting of precipitation during extreme rainfall events in particular, not only for flood prediction in large rural catchments but also for applications in urban hydrology. For instance, real-time flood forecasting systems for flood prediction and warning in urban areas require measurements and forecasts of precipitation with high spatial and temporal resolutions such as those obtained with weather radars.  Accurate, reliable and timely quantitative precipitation forecasting is an important and challenging task that it is now crucial for the reduction of hazard and the preservation of life and property in large urban areas in the probability of flooding. My research interests fall in the area of flood forecasting with radar and numerical weather prediction models for the real-time prediction and management of severe storms.

Current Research Projects:

• Climate Change Adaptation to Manage the Risks of Extreme Hydrological and Weather Events for Food Security in Vulnerable West Nile Delta (Funded by British Council Newton-Mosharafa Fund 2018-2020)

• Quantifying Uncertainty in Integrated Catchment Studies (EU-funded project 2014-2018). 

• Processing and correction of polarimetric weather radar data for real-time application in urban drainage (funder: Institute for Technical and Scientific Hydrology, Hanover, 2013-2015)

• Urban flood modelling using probabilistic radar rainfall ensembles (EPSRC-funded Project 2011-2012)