We aren't done yet: hydrological discovery based on new sensor systems

Telephones bristle with sensors, have continuous GPS location, and continuously send these data to the web. Fiber optics report temperature each second, each 0.1 m, for kilometers of cable (e.g., CTEMPS.org). Laser-ring down spectrometers provide near-continuous isotopic composition of water and atmospheric gases. Arduinos drift into space reporting images and sensor data for the price of a nice meal (in Switzerland). In short, the long-touted sensor revolution has officially arrived, and will soon be coming to a watershed near you. In this talk we will review the discoveries made in the last 5 years based on such sensor technology, identifying the salient sensor features which have led to success and challenges in adoption. Examples will be drawn from Senegal, Kenya, Switzerland, Israel, and the US. Based on these outcomes, we will provide strategic approaches to adoption of new sensing methods to support accelerated discovery in Hydrologic Sciences.