Integrating Multiscale Observations of U.S. Waters (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 10-21
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From page 11... ...
The ultimate goal is to deliver to Earth's societies enhanced benefits from improved forecasting and management in areas such as weather and seasonal climate, water resources and ecosystem management, environmental factors affecting human health and understanding, climate variability and change. The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
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SHORTCOMINGS OF TRADITIONAL MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES Point measurements, remotely sensed measurements, and models have been used effectively to manage water resources and conduct research on hydrologic processes. However, traditional approaches have serious shortcomings.
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From page 16... ...
Imagine, for example, the extent to which environmental forecasting and management would have been improved during the fall of 1999 when Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene impacted North Carolina if there had existed an integrated hydrologic measurement system. The combined use of remote sensing, soil moisture sensor networks, and spatially distributed hydrologic modeling would have provided better estimates of runoff from spatially and temporally variable source areas.
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From page 17... ...
Further, understanding and integrating the roles of the major international monitoring and observing systems would have added a level of complexity to PREPUBLICATION COPY
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From page 18... ...
There is an information roadblock preventing the integration of these data with in-situ measurements -- some technological and some institutional. An integrated Earth observation system useful for informed decision-making in Africa, or indeed anywhere, needs to combine new sensor technology for in-situ measurements, comprehensive satellite observations of the terrestrial water cycle, communications and data networking for the sensor networks and satellites systems, and computational platforms for merging the diverse data within models.
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From page 19... ...
evaluate the readiness of the scientific and technical communities to make effective use of more precise and reliable observations of hydrologic fluxes and states (e.g., soil moisture, snow cover, carbon and nutrient transport, water bodies and wetlands, and water quality indicators)
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From page 20... ...
merging the integrated observations with models and model validation; and (h) delivering the information products to those applying them to flood and drought forecasting, water management planning, disaster response, source water protection, and other areas.
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From page 21... ...
First, current and emerging sensor networking technologies are described in detail, with a focus on embedded sensor networks, which will provide a platform or ground-truthing for many of the other methods. Second, recent and emerging biogeochemical sensor technologies, many of which can be integrated into 21 PREPUBLICATION COPY
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