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Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology

CIROH

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CIROH, a partnership between NOAA and The University of Alabama, is a national consortium committed to advancing water prediction – the forecasting of streamflow entering water systems, extreme events such as floods and droughts, and water quality – and building community resilience to water-related challenges. CIROH scientists, from 28 different institutions—academic, government, and private, work to improve the understanding of hydrologic processes, operational hydrologic forecasting techniques and workflows, community water modeling, translation of forecasts to actionable products, and use of water predictions in decision making.

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The University of Alabama | Alabama Water Institute
Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Association

Goals

Research Leader

Advance research and leadership in support of NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction mission to: “collaboratively research, develop and deliver state-of-the science national hydrologic analyses, forecast information, data, guidance, and equitable decision-support services to inform essential emergency management and water resources decisions across all time scales;”

Knowledge Mobilizer

Reinforce the NWS National Water Center’s mission to “promote collaboration across the scientific community, serving as both a catalyst to accelerate the transition of research into operations and a center of excellence for water resources science, information, and prediction services;” and

Community Catalyst

Strengthen communities of practice to synthesize a new generation of interdisciplinary and innovative research products, education, and outreach supporting NOAA’s vision of a water- and weather-ready nation.

CIROH IN THE NEWS

Group of people standing in front of a presentation screen.

Tuscaloosa, Ala., Emerges as a Global Hub for Hydrological Forecasting at HEPEX Conference

April 18, 2025

By: Ryan Ruiz

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The international hydrological community gathered in Tuscaloosa for the 2025 HEPEX Conference, marking two decades of advancements in ensemble hydrological forecasting. Hosted by The University of Alabama’s Alabama Water Institute (AWI) and the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the event highlighted the region’s growing prominence as a center for water research and innovation.

NextGen In A Box: NGIAB

NextGen In A Box (NGIAB): Revolutionizing Hydrological Modeling with a 30-Minute Setup

February 14, 2025

By: Kayla Roberson

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) proudly announces NextGen In A Box (NGIAB), a transformative solution for hydrological modeling. Until now, cutting-edge hydrological modeling has been locked behind technical barriers. NextGen In A Box (NGIAB) solves those challenges, bringing sophisticated water modeling to everyone from local communities to top-tier researchers.

The NOAA ® emblem is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Commerce, used with permission. The use of the NOAA emblem recognizes the collaborative research partnership between the Institute and NOAA and does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the information, products, or services contained therein that were not developed in partnership with NOAA.