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National Surface Water

Surface water refers to any body of water that is found on the surface of the Earth. This includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. It is typically any water above ground level and is a critical component of the water cycle, or as it is scientifically known, the hydrological cycle. This cycle involves the movement of water from and to the surface of the Earth. Surface water is usually fed by water runoff and precipitation while seepage of water into the ground and evaporation causes surface water bodies to lose water. In some way, surface water is the opposite of groundwater.

In reality, they are actually reservoirs feeding each other, which means surface water can become groundwater when it seeps underneath the soil and groundwater to become surface when it comes out.

Types of Surface Water

Surface water is essentially of three types;

Watering potato plantation with surface irrigation canal with water.

Perennial Surface water

This is the permanent surface water that exists throughout the year, constantly replenished by the groundwater even when there is no precipitation. Good examples of this include river, oceans, streams, etc.

Man-made surface water

This is water found in artificial structures such as constructed wetlands and dams.

 

Due to the fact that surface water is more accessible than groundwater, it is the most relied on water for human use. Whether it is drinking, irrigation of farmlands, aquatic life, etc., surface water plays a major role. It is crucial to monitor surface water through different means of measurement, such as the flow rate of streams.  This is essential because it helps to determine the impact of climate change and human activities. Vegetation around bodies of surface water also plays an important role, and the removal of such vegetation either through deforestation or naturally can have serious adverse effects on the surface water. When there is a loss of vegetation, the chances of erosion and surface runoff increases and a flood is more likely.

The National surface water information provides all the data needed to manage Australia’s water resources. Such data include the knowledge of the spatial locations, relationships, and characteristics of the man-made and natural surface water that makes up the hydrological system.

Perennial Surface water

This is the permanent surface water that exists throughout the year, constantly replenished by the groundwater even when there is no precipitation. Good examples of this include river, oceans, streams, etc.

slow motion flowing water of a waterfall in the Blue Mountains Australia

Data Downloads

Geoscience Australia is in charge of data downloads in so many areas. It is the custodian of Australia’s surface hydrology data. This data is gathered from state to state and as well as through national jurisdictions, and everything is combined to create a surface hydrology database.

Broome Australia

Australian Water Resources Information System (AWRIS)

The Geofabric is developed to serve as the basis of the Australian Water Resources Information by creating a single, consistent geospatial framework for the whole country. Australian Water Resources Information System (AWRIS) was designed to help the Bureau of Meteorology to provide Australians with high-quality data and information on water resources. It is a comprehensive and highly efficient information system that can receive, standardise, organise, and interpret water data from all over the country. 

AWRIS is used to process and publish data and information about water in an efficient form. The Bureau receives the information about groundwater levels and river flows; water volume stored, water quality in aquifers and rivers, water trades and entitlement, and use and restrictions of water. 

All this raw data is input into AWRS which has raw file storage, an operational console, data warehouse, transformation and ingest processes, data marts and data management system. It processes the data, standardises it, organises data within the geofabric, analyse, interpret and integrate it, and produce high-quality water information that can be used for improved water management services.

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