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www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/6/6581/2009/
doi:10.5194/hessd-6-6581-2009
© Author(s) 2009. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
HESS Opinions "Hydrologists, bring out shovels and garden hoses and hit the dirt"
Faculty of Geosciences, Universiteit Utrecht, P.O. Box 80115, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands
Abstract. From an outsider's perspective, hydrology combines field work with modelling, but mostly ignores the potential for gaining understanding and conceiving new hypotheses from controlled laboratory experiments. Sivapalan (2009) pleaded for a question- and hypothesis-driven hydrology where data analysis and top-down modelling approaches lead to general explanations and understanding of general trends and patterns. We discuss why and how such understanding is gained very effectively from controlled experimentation in comparison to field work and modelling. We argue that many major issues in hydrology are open to experimental investigations. Though experiments may have scale problems, these are of similar gravity as the well-known problems of fieldwork and modelling and have not impeded spectacular progress through experimentation in other geosciences.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 2377 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 6 Comments) Final Revised Paper (HESS)
Citation: Kleinhans, M. G., Bierkens, M. F. P., and van der Perk, M.: HESS Opinions "Hydrologists, bring out shovels and garden hoses and hit the dirt", Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 6, 6581-6610, doi:10.5194/hessd-6-6581-2009, 2009. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager XML
