CUAHSI: A University Consortium for Hydrologic Science Richard P. Hooper, Executive Director Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences, Inc.

2 What is Hydrologic Science? Expands beyond traditional hydrology Expands beyond traditional hydrology Focus on “why” the earth works as it does, like other earth sciences, moving beyond traditional problem-solving orientation Focus on “why” the earth works as it does, like other earth sciences, moving beyond traditional problem-solving orientation Embraces parts of hydrology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, … Embraces parts of hydrology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, biogeochemistry, … Hydrologic cycle is central organizing principle Hydrologic cycle is central organizing principle

3 Who is CUAHSI? A consortium of 97 research universities, 4 affiliate members, and 2 int’l affiliates A consortium of 97 research universities, 4 affiliate members, and 2 int’l affiliates Incorporated June, 2001 as a non-profit corporation in Washington, DC Incorporated June, 2001 as a non-profit corporation in Washington, DC

4 Purpose Science Objective: To further predictive understanding of the terrestrial hydrologic cycle and its linkages with climate and biogeochemical cycles Science Objective: To further predictive understanding of the terrestrial hydrologic cycle and its linkages with climate and biogeochemical cycles Societal Need: Will there be enough water for the next century? Societal Need: Will there be enough water for the next century? …of appropriate quality …of appropriate quality …to meet society’s needs …to meet society’s needs …to maintain the integrity of our ecosystems …to maintain the integrity of our ecosystems

5 Science Topics Linking Hydrologic and Biogeochemical Cycles Linking Hydrologic and Biogeochemical Cycles Hydrologic Extremes Hydrologic Extremes Sustainability of Water Resources Sustainability of Water Resources Transport of Chemical and Biological Contaminants Transport of Chemical and Biological Contaminants Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem Functions Hydrologic Influence on Ecosystem Functions

6 Cross-cutting Themes Scaling Scaling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Forcing, Feedbacks, and Coupling Predictions and Limits-to-Prediction Predictions and Limits-to-Prediction

7 Need for CUAHSI Larger-scale, longer-term research to advance science Larger-scale, longer-term research to advance science Enable research at disciplinary boundaries Enable research at disciplinary boundaries Support of larger research teams Support of larger research teams Improve efficiency and effectiveness of data collection and dissemination Improve efficiency and effectiveness of data collection and dissemination

8 HydroView Initial infrastructure program Initial infrastructure program Mutually supportive elements Mutually supportive elements Observatories Observatories Instrumentation Instrumentation Informatics Informatics Synthesis Synthesis

9 Today’s Briefing Focus on HO’s and HIS Focus on HO’s and HIS Design Concepts Design Concepts Status of Prototyping Efforts Status of Prototyping Efforts Near-term Plans Near-term Plans Collaboration opportunities Collaboration opportunities

10 Hydrologic Observatory (HO) Design Concepts Large (~10,000 km 2 ) instrumented basins Large (~10,000 km 2 ) instrumented basins Permits exploration of all interfaces, including land surface/atmosphere Permits exploration of all interfaces, including land surface/atmosphere Provide coherent, multi-disciplinary, multi-scale data Provide coherent, multi-disciplinary, multi-scale data Community facilities Community facilities Core data available to everyone Core data available to everyone Site access by peer-reviewed competition Site access by peer-reviewed competition On-site professional staff On-site professional staff Budget Estimates Budget Estimates $3M annual operating cost and $10M 5-yr capital budget $3M annual operating cost and $10M 5-yr capital budget

11 HO Status Neuse Paper Prototype Study—just completed Neuse Paper Prototype Study—just completed National Workshop—August, 2004 Logan, UT National Workshop—August, 2004 Logan, UT NSF Program Announcement: Feb, 2005 NSF Program Announcement: Feb, 2005 Selection of 2 HOs: Oct, 2005 Selection of 2 HOs: Oct, 2005 Annual selection of 1 additional HO Annual selection of 1 additional HO Pilot network of 5 HOs Pilot network of 5 HOs

12 Hydrologic Information Systems Design Concept Provide common, convenient interface for users to retrieve HO data Provide common, convenient interface for users to retrieve HO data Federated digital library with DataViewer Federated digital library with DataViewer Metadata standards Metadata standards Advanced data systems technologies Advanced data systems technologies Automatic population with Federal Science Agency data (USGS, NWS, etc.) Automatic population with Federal Science Agency data (USGS, NWS, etc.)

13 Issues Make broad range of data types accessible to hydrologic scientists Make broad range of data types accessible to hydrologic scientists Unfamiliar formats Unfamiliar formats Large data files Large data files Integrate data from many providers Integrate data from many providers Security/Liability Security/Liability Differing/incomplete metadata standards Differing/incomplete metadata standards Maintenance of data archives Maintenance of data archives Role of CUAHSI vs. Federal Science Agencies Role of CUAHSI vs. Federal Science Agencies Support required Support required

14 HIS Status Pilot effort between CUAHSI and Pilot 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 universities 9 Additional collaborators from 9 universities Operational Design Operational 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, 2004 Two-year, $2.5M award made in April, 2004

15 Collaboration Opportunities Data formatting standards Data formatting standards Software engineering Software engineering Communication protocols Communication protocols Unidata experience with Unidata experience with Governance structure Governance structure Metrics of performance, user satisfaction Metrics of performance, user satisfaction

16 Summary Many activities, centered around HydroView Many activities, centered around HydroView Large cast of universities involved Large cast of universities involved Community forming around CUAHSI from many academic departments Community forming around CUAHSI from many academic departments Increased access to facilities and resources for all universities Increased access to facilities and resources for all universities