This is a detailed description of the steps leading from raw signals measured in space, to calibrated comparable long term data sets, to its final form: useful information for user communities. Examples of applications and data validations result from different investigations in the Mediteranean area. An appendix summarizes useful formulas of the evaluation of satellite data.

It is the task of the engineer, as of any other professional person, to do everything that is reasonably possible to analyse the difficulties with which his or her client is confronted, and on this basis to design solutions and implement these in practice. The distributed hydrological model is, correspondingly, the means for doing everything that is reasonably possible - of mobilising as much data and testing it with as much knowledge as is economically feasible - for the purpose of analysing problems and of designing and implementing remedial measures in the case of difficulties arising within the hydrological cycle. Thus the aim of distributed hydrologic modelling is to make the fullest use of cartographic data, of geological data, of satellite data, of stream discharge measurements, of borehole data, of observations of crops and other vegetation, of historical records of floods and droughts, and indeed of everything else that has ever been recorded or remembered, and then to apply to this everything that is known about meteorology, plant physiology, soil physics, hydrogeology, sediment transport and everything else that is relevant within this context. Of course, no matter how much data we have and no matter how much we know, it will never be enough to treat some problems and some situations, but still we can aim in this way to do the best that we possibly can.

Rural areas need to fulfil a large variety of functions and to accommodate many activities. The complexity of the problems, limited funds, and the almost irreversible character of some interventions result in a compelling need to evaluate ex ante the effects of alternative solutions for designation of land, for measures to develop infrastructure, and for soil and water management. Scenario studies are undertaken to help manage the complexity, to place bounds on uncertainties, and to create new visions. After an overview of the nature, variety and scope of scenario studies, the book illuminates various European examples and reviews, under the following headings: regional soil and water management; nature development and landscape quality; rural planning and the future of regions.

This book presents the integrated contributions of hydrologists, meteorologists and ecologists to the first IHP/IAHS George Kovacs Colloquium in connection with the study of global hydrology and climate change. The atmospherical, hydrological and terrestrial components of the Earth's systems operate on different time and space scales. Resolving these scaling incongruities, as well as understanding and modelling the complex interaction of land surface processes at the different scales, represent a major challenge for hydrologists, ecologists and meteorological scientists alike. This book deals with time and space scale variations with reference to several topics including: soil water balance; ecosystems and interaction of flow systems; and macroscale hydrological modelling. This book will be of great use to researchers, engineers and forecasters with an interest in space and time scale variability.

Rainfall-Runoff Modelling: The Primer, Second Edition is the follow-up of this popular and authoritative text, first published in 2001. The book provides both a primer for the novice and detailed descriptions of techniques for more advanced practitioners, covering rainfall-runoff models and their practical applications. This new edition extends these aims to include additional chapters dealing with prediction in ungauged basins, predicting residence time distributions, predicting the impacts of change and the next generation of hydrological models. Giving a comprehensive summary of available techniques based on established practices and recent research the book offers a thorough and accessible overview of the area. Rainfall-Runoff Modelling: The Primer Second Edition focuses on predicting hydrographs using models based on data and on representations of hydrological process. Dealing with the history of the development of rainfall-runoff models, uncertainty in mode predictions, good and bad practice and ending with a look at how to predict future catchment hydrological responses this book provides an essential underpinning of rainfall-runoff modelling topics. Fully revised and updated version of this highly popular text Suitable for both novices in the area and for more advanced users and developers Written by a leading expert in the field Guide to internet sources for rainfall-runoff modelling software

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Earth Observation for Water Resource Management in Africa" that was published in Remote Sensing