Integrating multiscale observations of U.S. waters
By: Committee on Integrated Observations for Hydrologic and Related Sciences, Water Science and Technology Board, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies.
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Water Science and Technology Board.; National Academies Press (U.S.)
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 198
ISBN-13: 9780309114578
Subjects: Water quality -- Monitoring -- United States; Environmental monitoring -- United States -- Data processing; Data warehousing -- United States; Database management -- United States; Stream measurements -- United States; Artificial satellites in earth sciences -- United States; Artificial satellites in oceanography -- United States; Earth sciences -- Remote sensing
Description: "Water is essential to life for humans and their food crops, and for ecosystems. Effective water management requires tracking the inflow, outflow, quantity and quality of ground-water and surface water, much like balancing a bank account. Currently, networks of ground-based instruments measure these in individual locations, while airborne and satellite sensors measure them over larger areas. Recent technological innovations offer unprecedented possibilities to integrate space, air, and land observations to advance water science and guide management decisions. This book concludes that in order to realize the potential of integrated data, agencies, universities, and the private sector must work together to develop new kinds of sensors, test them in field studies, and help users to apply this information to real problems"--Publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-180).