A Plan for a New Science Initiative on the Global Water Cycle: Appendix D

Updated 12 October, 2003

A Plan for a New Science Initiative
on the Global Water Cycle
Appendix D
Pillar Initiatives and Their Corresponding
Components in the Water Cycle Science Plan
Report to the USGCRP from the Water Cycle Study Group, 2001

Pillar Initiative 1

Determine whether the global water cycle is accelerating and to what degree human activities are responsible.

Table D.1. Components of Pillar Initiative 1*

Category	Specific Initiative (chapter)	Brief Description
Observations	Chapter 2	Water vapor
	Chapter 2	Clouds and radiation processes
	Chapter 2 Chapter 3	Global precipitation
	Chapter 2	Snow and ice
	Chapter 3	Global ocean fluxes
Process studies	Chapter 2	Field water vapor experiments
	Chapter 2	Campaign for precipitation and cloud microphysics
	Chapter 2	Field experiments on connections among atmosphere, land, and ocean processes
	Chapter 2†	Multiyear field measurements to distinguish slow and fast processes
Modeling	Chapter 2	Improved models
	Chapter 2†	Reanalysis
	Chapter 3	Optimal modeling strategies
	Chapter 3†	Observing system simulation
Budget studies	Chapter 2	Observed and computed budgets

* Specific initiatives described in Chapters 2 and 3; except as noted, these components are all essential priorities.

† Supporting priority.

Pillar Initiative 2

Determine the deeper scientific understanding needed to substantially reduce the losses and costs associated with water cycle calamities such as droughts, floods, and coastal disruptions.

Table D.2. Components of Pillar Initiative 2*

Category	Specific Initiative (chapter)	Brief Description
Observations	Chapter 2 Chapter 3	Precipitation
	Chapter 2†	Evaporation and energy fluxes
	Chapter 2	Surface runoff
	Chapter 2	Groundwater
	Chapter 2	Soil moisture
	Chapter 2	Snow and ice
	Chapter 3	Global ocean fluxes
	Chapter 3	Fluxes among atmosphere, surface, and subsurface reservoirs
	Chapter 4	Fluxes of water, nitrogen, and carbon at mouths of major rivers
	Chapter 4	Remote sensing for ecosystem parameters in freshwaters
	Chapter 4†	Enhanced measurements associated with carbon science effort
Process studies	Chapter 2†	Field water vapor experiments
	Chapter 2†	Campaign for precipitation and cloud microphysics
	Chapter 2†	Land-atmosphere field experiments
	Chapter 2†	Cold seasons field experiments
	Chapter 2	Field experiments on connections among atmosphere, land, and ocean processes
	Chapter 2	Multiyear field measurements to distinguish slow and fast processes
	Chapter 4	Nested basin studies
Modeling	Chapter 2	Improved models
	Chapter 2†	Coordinated model experiments
	Chapter 2†	Atmospheric 4DDA
	Chapter 2	Ocean 4DDA
	Chapter 2†	Land 4DDA
	Chapter 3	Optimal modeling strategies
	Chapter 3	Observing system simulation
	Chapter 3†	Work to advance theory
	Chapter 4	Coupled water-nitrogen-carbon models
	Chapter 4†	Dynamic vegetation models
Knowledge transfer	Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4	Knowledge transfer among scientists and stakeholders

* Specific initiatives described in Chapters 2-4; except as noted, all components identified are essential priorities.

† Supporting priority.

Pillar Initiative 3

Develop scientifically based capacity to predict the effects of changes in land use, land cover, and cryospheric processes on the cycling of water and associated biogeochemical constituents.

Table D.3. Components of Pillar Initiative 3*

Category	Specific Initiative (chapter)	Brief Description
Observations	Chapter 2 Chapter 3	Precipitation
	Chapter 2	Evaporation and energy fluxes
	Chapter 2	Surface runoff
	Chapter 2†	Groundwater
	Chapter 2†	Soil moisture
	Chapter 2	Snow and ice
	Chapter 3	Fluxes among atmosphere, surface, and subsurface reservoirs
	Chapter 4	Fluxes of water, nitrogen, and carbon at mouths of major rivers
	Chapter 4	Remote sensing for ecosystem parameters in freshwaters
	Chapter 4	Enhance streamflow and water quality monitoring
	Chapter 4†	Integrated water-nitrogen-carbon database
	Chapter 4	Measurement sensors for in situ measurements
Process studies	Chapter 2	Land-atmosphere field experiments
	Chapter 2	Cold seasons field experiments
	Chapter 2†	Multiyear field measurements to distinguish slow and fast processes
	Chapter 3	Process studies within systems model framework
	Chapter 4	Nested basin studies
Modeling	Chapter 2	Improved models
	Chapter 2	Coordinated model experiments
	Chapter 2†	Sea ice 4DDA
	Chapter 3	Optimal modeling strategies
	Chapter 3†	Observing system simulation
	Chapter 3	Work on new theory
	Chapter 4	Coupled water-nitrogen-carbon models
	Chapter 4	Dynamic vegetation models
Budget studies	Chapter 2	Observed and computed budgets
Knowledge transfer	Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4	Knowledge transfer among scientists and stakeholders

* Specific initiatives described in Chapters 2-4; except as noted, all components identified are essential priorities.

† Supporting priority.

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A Plan for a New Science Initiative on the Global Water Cycle Appendix D Pillar Initiatives and Their Corresponding Components in the Water Cycle Science Plan Report to the USGCRP from the Water Cycle Study Group, 2001

Pillar Initiative 1

Pillar Initiative 2

Pillar Initiative 3

A Plan for a New Science Initiative
on the Global Water Cycle
Appendix D
Pillar Initiatives and Their Corresponding
Components in the Water Cycle Science Plan
Report to the USGCRP from the Water Cycle Study Group, 2001