HYDROLOGISKA FORSKNINGSBEHOV UNDER 90-TALET / Needs for Hydrological Research in the 1990’s
Environmental problems and technical systems in the society are fundamentally related to hydrology. Hydrology is a very comprehensive concept. In fact, there are at least ten independent disciplines within hydrology. Classical hydrology is a descriptive science with the water balance equation as almost the only means of quantifying computations. Hydrodynamics have now to some extent been introduced when water quantity processes are described. In the research on water quality, the water balance is accounted for but hydrodynamical and hydrochemical processes are not yet coupled. From the perspective of society there are three main hydrological problems – water quantity problems in semi-arid regions, environmental problems, especially acidification and dispersion of pesticides, and problems related to ”nature energy”. These problems should not in the first place be tackled by the use of new theories, but rather by synthesis and analysis of already existing data and theories, to enable formulation of quantifying descriptions of complex problems. “Complete abstract not presented.”