Hydrologic Synthesis Activities

Recognizing the importance of water to life and to Earth systems, CUAHSI seeks to advance the full breadth of hydrologic science through interdisciplinary research aimed at synthesizing existing data and information. The integrative aspects are critical for hydrologic science, as water is the link between climate and ecosystems, humans and environments. These synthesis activities will be primarily conducted by working groups and the data will be made widely available. Synthesis activities are also intended to play a critical role in the development of CUAHSI programs and infrastructure by providing a venue for the formulation of hydrologic science questions and research initiatives through cross-cutting analysis (or synthesis) of existing information and theories. Given this context, the mission of the proposed synthesis activities are to:

• Promote the articulation of a community vision for the future of hydrologic science;
• Cultivate an interdisciplinary research culture of collaboration and cooperation; and
• Offer new opportunities to cooperate in attacking specific scientific challenges.

Synthesis activites—such as working groups—will provide proof of concept:

• Water Cycle Dynamics in a Changing Environment: Advancing Hydrologic Science through Synthesis (Murugesu “Siva” Sivapalan, P. Kumar, B.L. Rhoades, D Wuebbles - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne) – specifically relating to four open problems:
  • Human-nature interactions and adaptations
  • Role of the biosphere in water cycle dynamics
  • Human induced changes to water cycle dynamics
  • Structure of landscapes and their evolution through time
[more information]
• Humans Transforming the Water Cycle: Community-based Activities in Hydrologic Science (Charles J. Vörösmarty, L. Band, D. Lettenmaier, R. Vogel – University of New Hampshire) - specifically related to the widespread alteration of hydrologic systems over local-to-regional domains in the Northeastern region of the U.S.
[more information]