In the end of 2009 WaterWatch representatives visited Australia’s Bureau of Metrology (BOM) headquarters in Melbourne to discuss the Bureau’s needs for gridded ET products. As a result, WaterWatch was involved in the Precipitation and Actual Evapotranspiration Products project, with the goal to develop fundamental gridded water data products for actual evapotranspiration across the total Australian continent on a high spatial and temporal resolution.

Water scarcity is a major challenge facing Australia. The need to accurately monitor, assess and forecast the availability, condition and use of water resources is now more vital than ever. WaterWatch is involved in the Precipitation and Actual Evapotranspiration Products project, which is part of the Water Information Research and Development Alliance (WIRADA), one of the national research flagships. WIRADA is a joint initiative between the Bureau’s Water Division and CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. The shared goal is to improve the management of Australia’s water resources by delivering value-added water information products and tools based on a comprehensive and robust nationwide water information system.

WaterWatch developed fundamental gridded water data products for actual evapotranspiration (ETa) across Australia on a high spatial (1km) and temporal (8-day) resolution from July 2002 until June 2005. The results are currently examined by the CSIRO.