Dr Harry Dixon, Hydrologist

Current work

Much of my current work surrounds the measurement, management and assessment of hydrometric data. More specifically my work is centred on the maintenance and development of the UK National River Flow Archive (NRFA), which is delivered under Topic 1 of the CEH Water Programme. The NRFA is the UK’s national archive of hydrometric data, operating as the focal point for river flows data from a range of measuring authorities. I lead the Data Acquisition and Retrievals Function of the NRFA, coordinating activities in relation to liaison with hydrometric measuring authority, river flow data processing and validation and data provision to national and international user community. I am secretary to the UK Surface and Groundwater Archives Committee.

Other areas of my work surround the wider management of hydrological and environmental data, both within CEH and externally. I am a member of a British Standards Institution (BSi) Hydrometry Committee (CPI/113) and am currently a part of the Review Panel updating the British Standard on the Acquisition and Management of Precipitation Data.

Since 2009 I have acted as secretary to the UK Committee for National and International Hydrology (UKCNIH) which incorporates the UK National Committee for the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO. Through this role I help coordinate UK input to the IHP and relevant Member State reporting to UNESCO. Through my scientific activities, I actively participate in a number of international projects including the UNESCO-IHP FRIEND programme. Since 2011 I have been the UK National Representative on the EURO-FRIEND Programme Steering Committee.

Research interests

• Hydrometry
• Hydrometric data analysis and interpretation
• Environmental / hydrological data management
• Quantification and attribution of hydrological variability
• Hydrological software development

Background

I joined CEH in July 2007 to work in the Environmental Informatics Programme, before moving to the National River Flow Archive in April 2008. I have a research background in the assessment of hydrological change and prior to joining CEH I obtained a PhD in hydrology from the University of Birmingham.

Brief CV

2008-present: Hydrologist, CEH – Data Acquisition and Retrievals Function Manager, UK National River Flow Archive

2007-2008: Informatics Liaison Officer, CEH

2003-2007: PhD (Hydrology), University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Thesis: "Streamflow trends in Wales and the English Midlands 1962-2001".

Research details: Assessment of recent hydrological change through statistical analysis of instrumental riverflow time series records across Wales and the English Midlands. Analysis of flow trends and investigation of linkages with precipitation and atmospheric circulation changes.

Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) Industrial CASE Award Studentship in conjunction with Hydro-Logic Ltd. Collaboration in Science and Engineering (CASE) Award PhD project in conjunction with Advantage West Midlands. Collaborative project with Hydro-Logic Ltd. to develop web-based software for hydrological data analysis.

2000-2003: BSc (Hons.) Geography, 2:1 Class, University of Birmingham.

Selected publications

Please see also the NERC Open Research Archive.

Dixon, H. (2010). Managing national hydrometric data: from data to information. Servat, E.; Demuth, S.; Dezetter, A.; Daniell, T. (eds.). Global Change: Facing Risks and Threats to Water Resources (Proceeding of the Sixth FRIEND World Conference, Fez, Morocco, October 2010). IAHS Press, Wallingford, UK. 451-458. IAHS Publication 340.

Harvey, C.L.; Dixon, H. and Hannaford, J. (2010). Developing best practice for infilling daily river flow data. Kirby, Celia, (ed.) Role of Hydrology in Managing Consequences of a Changing Global Environment (Proceeding of the BHS Third International Symposium). British Hydrological Society, 816-823.

Dixon, H.; Lawler, D.M. and Shamseldin, A. Y. (2006). Streamflow trends in western Britain, Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L19406. doi:10.1029/2006GL027325

Dixon, H.; Lawler, D. M.; Shamseldin, A.Y. and Webster, P. (2006). The effect of record length on the analysis of river flow trends in Wales and Central England, In: Demuth, S.; Gustard, A.; Planos, E.; Scatena, F. and Servat, E. (eds.) Climate Variability and Change - Hydrological Impacts (Proceedings of the Fifth FRIEND World Conference held at Havana, Cuba, November 2006), IAHS Press, Wallingford, UK. 490-495. IAHS Publication 308.