Challenges and Opportunities in the Hydrologic Sciences

国家研究理事会-S水科学技术委员会建议对当前和正在出现的水文科学领域的挑战和机遇进行研究，包括(1)审查水文学及其子领域的现状及其与相关地球科学和生物科学的耦合，(2)确定促进水文科学发展的有前途的新机会，以更好地了解可用于改善水资源和环境工程与管理的水循环。这项研究将由一个由大约12名志愿专家组成的临时跨学科委员会在国家研究委员会工作人员的支持下进行。它将由世界水文局组织和监督，并得到世界水文局S水文科学常设委员会的协助和指导。委员会将举行大约五次会议，听取简报，收集信息，审议关键问题，并撰写报告。该报告将载有关于水文科学未来发展方向的结论和建议。从2009年6月1日到2011年5月31日的24个月期间，这项活动的总估计成本为53.5万美元。智力价值：随着美国和世界越来越多地解决全球气候变化、生态系统保护、地下水资源可持续性和新的水资源需求等复杂问题，水文科学面临新的挑战。社会需要更深入地了解人类的压力如何改变水循环，影响人类和环境可用水的质量和数量。随着气候、土地利用和人口模式的变化，在不断发展的经济中，各机构需要准确的信息来就允许的用水和废物管理做出决策。这些主题不能单独讨论；联系需要综合研究。这种整合需要尖端的研究模式来感知数据，将原始数据转化为信息，并综合研究结果。为了有效地应对这个新世界，需要重新审视水文科学的议程，改变科学的研究方式。广泛的影响：这项研究的主要焦点将是NSF的水文科学计划，但鉴于水问题对国家的重要性，报告还应该服务于学术/教育社区、其他有水文和水资源计划的机构、国会工作人员、OSTP、专业学会和其他承担与地球科学和水资源有关的任务的实体。这份报告应该是那些从事水文研究和科学进步的人的重要参考，就像《水文科学》(1991年)为水文科学界服务了近二十年一样。

The National Research Council?s (NRC) Water Science and Technology Board (WSTB) proposes to undertake a study of the current and emerging challenges and opportunities in the hydrologic sciences, including (1) a review of the current status of the hydrology and its subfields and of their coupling with related geosciences and biosciences, and (2) the identification of promising new opportunities to advance hydrologic sciences for better understanding of the water cycle that can be used to improve water resources and environmental engineering and management.The study will be carried out by an ad hoc, interdisciplinary committee of approximately 12 volunteer experts, with support from NRC staff. It will be organized and overseen by the WSTB with assistance and guidance from the WSTB?s standing committee on Hydrologic Sciences. The committee will hold approximately five meetings to receive briefings, gather information, deliberate critical issues, and write its report. The report will contain conclusions and recommendations regarding future directions for the hydrologic sciences. The total estimated cost of this activity is $535,000 for the 24-month period, June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2011.Intellectual merit: Hydrologic science faces new challenges as the nation and world increasingly address complex issues presented by global climate change, ecosystem protection, groundwater resource sustainability, and new water demands. Society requires a deeper understanding of how human pressures are altering the water cycle and affecting the quality and quantity of water available to humans and the environment. Agencies need accurate information to make decisions on allowable water use and waste management in an evolving economy as climate, land use, and population patterns change. These topics cannot be addressed separately; connections require integrated studies. Such integration necessitates cutting-edge research modalities for sensing data, converting raw data into information, and synthesizing findings. An effective response to this new world requires revisiting the agenda for hydrologic science and revamping ways in which science is done.Broader impacts: The primary focus of this study will be the NSF program in hydrologic science but given the importance of water issues to the nation, the report should also serve the academic/educational community, other agencies with programs in hydrology and water resources, Congressional staff, the OSTP, professional societies, and other entities with missions related to Earth sciences and water resources. The report should be an important reference to those engaged in hydrologic research and advancement of the science, much the same as Opportunities in the Hydrologic Sciences (1991) has served the hydrologic science community for nearly two decades.