Surface Water Special Sessions - Spring '02 AGU Meetings
1. The role of models and data in the TMDL process
A recently completed National Research Council study of the Clean Water Act's Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program assessed several issues related to the scientific
basis of the TMDL program, including the development and use of information to
identify sources of pollutant loadings and their respective contributions to water quality
impairment. The study recognizes the importance of models in the development of
TMDLs, and emphasizes the importance of accounting for uncertainty and for using
adaptive modeling approaches. We invite papers that address several model-related
questions and recommendations made by the NRC Committee, including: (1) How can
uncertainty and error be explicitly considered in the estimation and application of models
used in the TMDL process? (2) What are the advantages and disadvantages of relatively
complex, mechanistic models versus conceptually simpler empirical models for use in
setting TMDLs? (3) How can models be used to estimate impairment probability
distribution for all waterbodies in a state? and (4) How can monitoring data be utilized to
revise and improve TMDL models? Papers that consider the coupling of different types
of models at different scales are also encouraged. We encourage presenters to emphasize
both the strengths and weaknesses of the modeling approach they use and to discuss the
needs for further model development in light of the NRC recommendations.
Conveners:
Gerard McMahon, U.S. Geological Survey, 3916 Sunset Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC
27607, 919-571-4068, gmcmahon@usgs.gov
Richard B. Alexander, U.S. Geological Survey, 413 National Center, 12201
Sunrise Valley Road, Reston, VA 20192, 703-648-6869, ralex@usgs.gov
2. Predictability in Hydrometeorology
The global water cycle is maintained by diverse physical processes in various geospheres.
Models of different types and complexity can be used to predict various aspects of the
water cycle. Many of the natural processes involved exhibit chaotic bahavior. Small
changes in the state of a system, due to either observational or model related
uncertainties lead to drastically different solutions after a finite time period, resulting first
in a partial, and eventually in a complete loss of predictability. To be of use, forecasts in
this environment need to be expressed probabilisticly, instead of in the form of a single
value. In this session studies related to the predictability of hydrometeorological
processes are solicited. This includes theoretical studies aimed at assessing the
predictability properties of different subcomponents of the water cycle, as well as
hydrometeorological applications aimed at quantifying forecast uncertainty on various
spatial and temporal scales. In particular we invite contributions on different
methodologies developed for capturing case dependent forecast uncertainty related to the
use of imperfect models and limited observations. Papers on the use of ensemble and
related approaches in various hydrometeorological forecast applications are especially
welcome.
Conveners:
Zoltan Toth, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
John Schaacke, NOAA/NWS,1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 work:
(301)713-1660 facsimile: (301)713-0963 email:john.schaake@noaa.gov Qingyun Duan,
NOAA NWS, Hydrology Lab, 1325 East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD, 20910,
facsimile: (301)713-0963, email: qingyun.duan@noaa.gov
3. Hypothesis, Theories, and Applications of Distributed Modeling and the Initial
Results of the Distributed Model Intercomparison Project (DMIP)
The National Weather Service Hydrology Laboratory (NWS/HL) is hosting the
distributed Model Intercomparison Project (DMIP)
(http://hsp.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hrl/dmip/index.html) to identify, to understand and to share
science issues in distributed hydrologic modeling through intercomparison of distributed
models (among themselves and with lumped models). Of particular interest to the host
are those that are particularly important at the space-time scales where operational
hydrologic models operate for purposes of flash flood, river flood and water resources
forecasting. The purpose of this session is (1) to provide a progress report, particularly in
the area of data preparedness and availability, and initial results from limited model
intercomparisons, and (2) to seek general contributions from the community on all
aspects of such a study, including data analysis (including data quality), distributed and
lumped modeling of soil moisture accounting and routing, comparison of results between
distributed and lumped modeling, computational issues, objective assessment of model
results, assessment of marginal benefit of additional/finer-resolution data sources and
physical processes modeled, parameter estimation, data assimilation, and development of
forecast products from distributed model output. Contributions from both participants
and non-participants of DMIP are equally welcome.
Conveners
Michael Smith, Hydrologic Science and Modeling Branch, Hydrology Laboratory,
National Weather Service, 1325 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA;
Tel: +1-301-713-0640 ext 128; Fax: +1-301-713-0963; E-mail:
michael.smith@noaa.gov; Xu Liang, 631 Davis Hall, #1710, Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1710 USA;
Tel: +1-510-642-2648; Fax: +1-510-642-7483; E-mail: liang@ce.berkeley.edu.
4. General Surface Water Hydrology and Water Resources: Poster session
The primary focus of this session will be on general surface water hydrology topics not
currently associated with other Spring Meeting themes. A wide range of topics, including
operational streamflow forecasting, riparian and vadose zone hydrology, water resources
management, climate change, land surface modeling and processes, calibration issues in
modeling, and statistical hydrology, among others, will be addressed in this session.
Topics may also include spatial and temporal scaling issues in surface hydrology. This is
advertised as a posters-only session.
Conveners:
Terri S. Hogue, Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, College of Engineering
and Mines, University of Arizona, Bldg. 11, PO Box 210011, Tucson, AZ 85721-0011,
hoguets@hwr.arizona.edu
Christopher A. Williams, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia,
291 McCormick Road, Clark Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123, caw4r@virginia.edu
5. Coupled Watershed and Ecosystem Processes: Methodologies, Models,
Measurements and Management
The limited knowledge of 1) the coupling of hydrological mechanisms to ecosystem
structure and function and the effects of alteration activities, and 2) sound methods to
monitor important ecosystem characteristics and the temporal and spatial changes
resulting from system perturbations limit the ability to manage land and water resources
using an ecosystem driven approach. This session focuses on multidisciplinary research
that monitors and models ecosystem processes at multiple spatial and temporal scales
within a watershed framework. This section seeks papers from field and modeling-based
research that examine the impact and interactions of soil, vegetation and hydrological
factors, from the hillslope to the landscape scale, and their response to changing systems.
Topics that include the role of streamflow characteristics, soil water dynamics or flow
paths on watershed riparian processes, nutrient cycling, carbon uptake and habitat
modification are encouraged. Research that addresses the transition from science to land
and water resource management is also welcome.
Conveners: Jennifer Jacobs, Dept. of Civil and Coastal Engineering, University of
Florida, Gainesville, Fl 32611-6580, 352 392-9537, D. Scott Mackay, Dept. of Forest
Ecology and Management, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI
53706
6. Impacts of Urban Land Use Change: Hydrologic, Biogeochemical, and Policy
Issues
As population in the U.S. and worldwide grows, pressures to urbanize the landscape
continue to mount. The east and west coasts of the U.S. are highly urbanized with
sprawl-type growth becoming a widely recognized phenomenon associated with many
urban centers. Development of the landscape leads to a spectrum of negative hydrologic
and biogeochemical consequences including heightened flood flows, reduced baseflows,
channel incision and erosion, impaired groundwater recharge, changes in redox
conditions, alteration of aquatic and terrestrial biological communities, and increased
nutrient and pollutant loadings and concentrations. Scientists and policy-makers are both
focusing greater attention on these linked problems. Scientific pursuits in this area range
from tracking and quantification of urban growth, to the creation of best management
practices (BMPs) designed to mitigate the impacts of urbanization, to the development of
high resolution, physically-based numerical models to estimate and predict nutrient
concentrations in streams. Policy-oriented efforts include the establishment of measures
to curb urban sprawl such as “Smart Growth” programs, and regulations to monitor and
limit nutrients and pollutants in streams.
This session will attract a blend of both science and policy perspectives to the problems
associated with urbanization. We invite papers that span scientific exploration of
urbanization impacts and the policy realm of controlled or directed development.
Appropriate scientific presentations would include the effects of urbanization on runoff,
recharge, erosion, nutrient cycling processes, water quality, and species diversity in
biological communities. Appropriate policy presentations might discuss the effectiveness
of low impact development, and government or community efforts to create effective
land development control programs. Presentations that integrate science and policy such
as the impact of land use programs on runoff processes and water quality are particularly
welcomed.
Convenors: Glenn Moglen, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD, moglen@eng.umd.edu, 301-405-1964; Scott
Goetz, Department of Geography, University of Maryland, sgoetz@geog.umd.edu, 301405-1297, Doug Burns, Watersheds Research Section, U.S. Geological Survey, 425
Jordan Rd. Troy, New York 12180-8349, daburns@usgs.gov, 518-285-5662
Fax: 518-285-5601