CUAHSI: A University CUAHSI: A University Consortium for Hydrologic Consortium for Hydrologic

ScienceScienceRichard P. Hooper,Richard P. Hooper,

Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorConsortium of Universities for the Consortium of Universities for the

Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc.Inc.

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What is Hydrologic Science?What is Hydrologic Science?

Expands beyond traditional hydrologyExpands beyond traditional hydrology Focus on “why” the earth works as it does, Focus on “why” the earth works as it does,

like other earth sciences, moving beyond like other earth sciences, moving beyond traditional problem-solving orientationtraditional problem-solving orientation

Embraces parts of hydrology, Embraces parts of hydrology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, …biogeochemistry, …

Hydrologic cycle is central organizing Hydrologic cycle is central organizing principleprinciple

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Who is CUAHSI?Who is CUAHSI?

A consortium of 97 A consortium of 97 research research universities, 4 universities, 4 affiliate members, affiliate members, and 2 int’l affiliatesand 2 int’l affiliates

Incorporated June, Incorporated June, 2001 as a non-2001 as a non-profit corporation profit corporation in Washington, DCin Washington, DC

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PurposePurpose Science Objective:Science Objective: To further predictive To further predictive

understanding of the terrestrial hydrologic understanding of the terrestrial hydrologic cycle and its linkages with climate and cycle and its linkages with climate and biogeochemical cyclesbiogeochemical cycles

Societal Need:Societal Need: Will there be enough water Will there be enough water for the next century?for the next century? ……of appropriate qualityof appropriate quality ……to meet society’s needsto meet society’s needs ……to maintain the integrity of our ecosystemsto maintain the integrity of our ecosystems

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Science TopicsScience Topics

Linking Hydrologic and Linking Hydrologic and Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles

Hydrologic ExtremesHydrologic Extremes Sustainability of Water ResourcesSustainability of Water Resources Transport of Chemical and Biological Transport of Chemical and Biological

ContaminantsContaminants Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem

FunctionsFunctions

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Cross-cutting ThemesCross-cutting Themes

ScalingScaling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Predictions and Limits-to-PredictionPredictions and Limits-to-Prediction

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Need for CUAHSINeed for CUAHSI

Larger-scale, longer-term research to Larger-scale, longer-term research to advance scienceadvance science

Enable research at disciplinary Enable research at disciplinary boundariesboundaries

Support of larger research teamsSupport of larger research teams Improve efficiency and effectiveness Improve efficiency and effectiveness

of data collection and disseminationof data collection and dissemination

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HydroViewHydroView

Initial infrastructure Initial infrastructure programprogram

Mutually supportive Mutually supportive elementselements ObservatoriesObservatories InstrumentationInstrumentation InformaticsInformatics SynthesisSynthesis

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Today’s BriefingToday’s Briefing

Focus on HO’s and HISFocus on HO’s and HIS Design ConceptsDesign Concepts Status of Prototyping EffortsStatus of Prototyping Efforts Near-term PlansNear-term Plans

Collaboration opportunitiesCollaboration opportunities

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Hydrologic Observatory (HO) Hydrologic Observatory (HO) Design ConceptsDesign Concepts

Large (~10,000 kmLarge (~10,000 km22) instrumented basins) instrumented basins Permits exploration of all interfaces, including Permits exploration of all interfaces, including

land surface/atmosphereland surface/atmosphere Provide coherent, multi-disciplinary, multi-scale Provide coherent, multi-disciplinary, multi-scale

datadata Community facilitiesCommunity facilities

Core data available to everyoneCore data available to everyone Site access by peer-reviewed competitionSite access by peer-reviewed competition On-site professional staffOn-site professional staff

Budget EstimatesBudget Estimates $3M annual operating cost and $10M 5-yr capital $3M annual operating cost and $10M 5-yr capital

budgetbudget

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HO StatusHO Status

Neuse Paper Prototype Study—just Neuse Paper Prototype Study—just completedcompleted

National Workshop—August, 2004 Logan, National Workshop—August, 2004 Logan, UTUT

NSF Program Announcement: Feb, 2005NSF Program Announcement: Feb, 2005 Selection of 2 HOs: Oct, 2005Selection of 2 HOs: Oct, 2005 Annual selection of 1 additional HO 2008-Annual selection of 1 additional HO 2008-

20102010 Pilot network of 5 HOsPilot network of 5 HOs

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Hydrologic Information Hydrologic Information Systems Design ConceptSystems Design Concept

Provide common, convenient interface Provide common, convenient interface for users to retrieve HO datafor users to retrieve HO data

Federated digital library with DataViewerFederated digital library with DataViewer Metadata standardsMetadata standards Advanced data systems technologiesAdvanced data systems technologies Automatic population with Federal Automatic population with Federal

Science Agency data (USGS, NWS, etc.)Science Agency data (USGS, NWS, etc.)

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IssuesIssues

Make broad range of data types accessible Make broad range of data types accessible to hydrologic scientiststo hydrologic scientists Unfamiliar formatsUnfamiliar formats Large data filesLarge data files

Integrate data from many providersIntegrate data from many providers Security/LiabilitySecurity/Liability Differing/incomplete metadata standardsDiffering/incomplete metadata standards

Maintenance of data archivesMaintenance of data archives Role of CUAHSI vs. Federal Science AgenciesRole of CUAHSI vs. Federal Science Agencies Support requiredSupport required

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HIS StatusHIS Status

Pilot effort between CUAHSI andPilot effort between CUAHSI and Univ. of Texas (D. Maidment)Univ. of Texas (D. Maidment) San Diego Supercomputer Center (J. Helly)San Diego Supercomputer Center (J. Helly) Drexel University (M. Piasecki)Drexel University (M. Piasecki) Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (P. Kumar)Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (P. Kumar) 9 Additional collaborators from 9 universities9 Additional collaborators from 9 universities

Operational DesignOperational Design Center for Hydrologic Information (support)Center for Hydrologic Information (support) Thematic Centers (development)Thematic Centers (development)

Two-year, $2.5M award made in April, Two-year, $2.5M award made in April, 20042004

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Collaboration OpportunitiesCollaboration Opportunities

Data formatting standardsData formatting standards Software engineeringSoftware engineering Communication protocolsCommunication protocols Unidata experience withUnidata experience with

Governance structureGovernance structure Metrics of performance, user satisfactionMetrics of performance, user satisfaction

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SummarySummary

Many activities, centered around Many activities, centered around HydroViewHydroView

Large cast of universities involvedLarge cast of universities involved Community forming around CUAHSI Community forming around CUAHSI

from many academic departmentsfrom many academic departments Increased access to facilities and Increased access to facilities and

resources for all universitiesresources for all universities