About Jan Verkade

Dr. Verkade is a hydrologist with a keen interest in hydrologic forecast – warning – response systems. He has completed a PhD project in which he extensively researched the estimation, use and verification of estimates of predictive atmospheric and hydrologic uncertainty. Specifically, he has researched and published on the benefits of estimating predictive uncertainty, on the effects of post-processing of precipitation and temperature forecasts on streamflow predictions and on effectively using estimates of predictive hydrologic uncertainty. The knowledge and experience gained in the PhD research project have been applied in projects in Ireland, Sudan, Australia, the United States, China and the Netherlands.

In addition, Dr. Verkade has ample experience in the development of operational, real-time hydrological forecasting systems (Delft-FEWS). This includes both the design and the implementation phase. Here, his experience as an operational forecaster contributes to the quality of the resulting systems. Since 2010, Dr. Verkade has been a member of the river forecasting service of the Water Management Centre of the Netherlands. As a river forecaster, he has been responsible for monitoring and forecasting of water levels and discharge of the rivers Rhine and Meuse. In addition to its responsibilities for forecasting for the Dutch rivers, in autumn 2011 the team has assumed shared responsibility for interpreting and disseminating forecasts for the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS).

At Deltares, Dr. Verkade is one of the two coordinators of the “Early Warning” R&D programme. This programme ensures that Deltares continues to work on the cutting edge of realtime hydrological forecasting and warning. Dr. Verkade holds a PhD degree in Hydraulic Engineering and Flood Risk Management , a (cum laude) Master of Science degree in Water Resources Management (both from Delft University of Technology), a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Dublin City University and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from The Hague University. Including a brief interlude, he has worked for Deltares since 1998.