OPPORTUN ITI ES TO IMPROVE HYDROLOGIC DATA

Abstract. Hydrologic data collection over scales from cen-timemrs to continents, from minutes to years is difficult and expensive, so hydrologic models usually conceptualize proc-esses based on simple, often homogeneous, views of nature. This forced oversimplification impedes cientific understand-ing and management of water resources. As the focus of hydrologic research shifts to larger regional and global scales, the collection, management, distribution, and analysis of data will improve so that models and data can each drive and direct the other. Better models illuminate the type and quan-tity of data needed to test hypotheses. Better data permit development and validation of more complete models and new hypotheses. Coordinated hydrologic experiments (such as the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment) and re-mote sensing of hydrologic parameters examine hydrologic variables at these larger scales, and isotope geochemistry, paleohydrology, and biological methods allow analysis and retrieval of new kinds of information. Improvements in the management and accessibility of data will make them more easily available to hydrologic scientists