Hydrologic science priorities for the U.S. Global Change Research Program : an initial assessment / Committee on Hydrologic Science, Water Science and Technology Board, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Hydrologic Science.

National Research Council (U.S.). Water Science and Technology Board.

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate.

Series:

Compass series (Washington, D.C.)

The Compass series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

U.S. Global Change Research Program.

Hydrology--Research--United States.

Hydrology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 34 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academy Press, c1999.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The availability of fresh water is potentially one of the most pervasive crises of the coming century. Water-related decisions will determine the future of major ecosystems, the health of regional economies, and the political stability of nations. A vigorous program of research in hydrologic sciences can provide the basis for sound water management at local, regional, national, and international levels. The Committee on Hydrologic Science was established by the National Research Council in 1999 to identify priorities for hydrologic science that will ensure its vitality as a scientific discipline in service of societal needs. This charge will be performed principally through a series of studies that provide scientific advice on the hydrologic aspects of national program and U.S. hydrologic contributions to international programs. This first report contains a preliminary assessment of the hydrologic science content of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). Because this is a short and focused report, little effort is spent to reaffirm the established and successful elements of the USGCRP. In fact, the Committee generally endorses the findings of the National Research Council (NRC) report Global Environmental Change: Research Pathways for the Next Decade (NRC, 1998a; the so-called Pathways report) in this respect. Instead the attention here is directed toward the most critical missing hydrologic science elements in the FY2000 USGCRP. This brings the focus to the terrestrial component of the water cycle. The integrative nature of terrestrial hydrology could significantly strengthen the USGCRP.

Contents:

Hydrologic Science Priorities for the U.S. Global Change Research Program

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

1-Setting Priorities

2-Science Foundations and Basic Processes

PREDICTABILITY AND VARIABILITY OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL WATER CYCLES

Predictable Patterns of Seasonal-to-Interannual Variability

Sources of Long-Term Variability

Linking Measurements and Understanding across Scales

COUPLING OF HYDROLOGIC SYSTEMS AND ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH CHEMICAL CYCLES

Characterization of Water and Chemical Pathways

Interactions between Hydrologic Systems and Ecosystems

Human Disturbances of Hydrologic Systems and Ecosystems

3-Measurement and Data Strategies

MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING GROUND-BASED NETWORKS

INTEGRATION OF REMOTE SENSING WITH GROUND-BASED MEASUREMENTS

DATA INTERPRETATION: SYNERGY IN MODELING AND MEASUREMENT

SUPPORTING LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTAL SITES

DATA ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY CONTROL

4-Applications and Knowledge Transfer

APPLICATIONS AND USER INTEGRATION

EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

5-Conclusions and Recommendations

References

Appendix Biographical Sketches of Committee on Hydrologic Science.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-32).

ISBN:

9786610185689

9780309172691

0309172691

9781280185687

1280185686

9780309593762

030959376X

9780585213002

0585213003

OCLC:

44959070