Knowledge gaps in our perceptual model of Great Britain's hydrology

Wagener, Thorsten; Dadson, Simon J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6144-4639; Hannah, David M.; Coxon, Gemma; Beven, Keith; Bloomfield, John P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-1723; Buytaert, Wouter; Cloke, Hannah; Bates, Paul; Holden, Joseph; Parry, Louise; Lamb, Rob; Chappell, Nick A.; Fry, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1142-4039; Old, Gareth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-1070. 2021 Knowledge gaps in our perceptual model of Great Britain's hydrology. Hydrological Processes, 35 (7), e14288. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14288

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Abstract/Summary

There is a no lack of significant open questions in the field of hydrology. How will hydrological connectivity between freshwater bodies be altered by future human alterations to the hydrological cycle? Where does water go when it rains? Or what is the future space–time variability of flood and drought events? However, the answers to these questions will vary with location due to the specific and often poorly understood local boundary conditions and system properties that control the functional behaviour of a catchment or any other hydrologic control volume. We suggest that an open, shared and evolving perceptual model of a region's hydrology is critical to tailor our science questions, as it would be for any other study domain from the plot to the continental scale. In this opinion piece, we begin to discuss the elements of and point out some knowledge gaps in the perceptual model of the terrestrial water cycle of Great Britain. We discuss six major knowledge gaps and propose four key ways to reduce them. While the specific knowledge gaps in our perceptual model do not necessarily transfer to other places, we believe that the development of such perceptual models should be at the core of the debate for all hydrologic communities, and we encourage others to have a similar debate for their hydrologic domain.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14288
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hydro-climate Risks (Science Area 2017-) Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0885-6087
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	catchments, hydrology, knowledge gaps, perceptual model, science questions
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	14 Jul 2021 16:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530706

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