Hydrological Modeling of Continental-Scale Basins

Hydrological models at continental scales are traditionally used for water resources planning. However, continental-scale hydrological models may be useful in assessing the impacts from future climate change on catchment hydrology and water resources or from human activity on hydrology and biogeochemical cycles at large scales. Development of regional-scale terrestrial hydrological models will further our understanding of the Earth's water cycle. Continental scales allow for better understanding of the geographic distribution of land-atmospheric moisture fluxes, improved water management at continental scales, better quantification of the impact of human activity and climate change on the water cycle, and improved simulation of weather and climate.