Author(s): R. Srikanthan; L. Shelley; S. Comeadow
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: National Water Account; Uncertainty; Line items; Chart of accounts; Capture tool; Uncertainty propagation law
Abstract: The Bureau of Meteorology has the responsibility for compiling and delivering water information for Australia including publication of annual National Water Accounts (NWA). Last year the Bureau worked closely with lead water agencies in each state and territory, other Government agencies and peak water industry bodies to produce a Methods Pilot for the NWA. In the Methods Pilot, no information on uncertainty of the account line items was included. The water balance line items for the water accounts were calculated using different data sources. Input data could have been either measured, modelled or derived. Given that such variation in input sources is likely to contribute to uncertainty of the line items, it was decided that in future NWAs, uncertainties will be presented. In order to achieve this objective, methods are derived to estimate the uncertainties of the water account line items. The paper will describe these methods for estimating uncertainty.
Year: 2011