Climate Variability and Change
Hydrological Impacts

Since 1985, the international FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data) research programme of UNESCO has developed to become a global network of researchers from universities, research organizations, operational hydrological agencies and policy makers, for exchanging and sharing scientific knowledge and data. Eight regional FRIEND groups have been established and are investigating global change impacts on the hydrological cycle, statistical analyses of hydrological extremes, flow forecasting, hydrological modelling at different scales, variability of hydrological regimes, uncertainties in applying hydrological and water resources models and regionwide surface water assessment, to enhance capacity building in developing countries. The Fifth International FRIEND conference was held in Havana, Cuba, and this proceedings volume publishes 117 papers from over 30 countries. It reflects both the international dimension of FRIEND and the key challenges facing hydrologists in the 21st century. The papers focus on: Data: databases; networks; GIS; Hydrological extremes: low flow prediction and forecasting, flood prediction and forecasting, rainfall–runoff modelling; Hydro-climatology: precipitation variability and prediction, teleconnections, climate change and impacts, trends; and Ecosystems: in-stream ecology, flood plains, water quality, sediments, groundwater, water balance, soils and land cover.