CLEANER and NSF's environmental observatories / Committee on the Collaborative Large-scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research (CLEANER), Water Science and Technology Board, Division on Earth and Life Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies
Cover -- Preface -- Contents -- Summary -- 1 Introduction -- CLEANER -- Scope and Purpose of this Report -- 2 CLEANER and the Observatory Approach -- Value of the Observatory Approach -- Can CLEANER Be Transformative63; -- How Can CLEANER Fill in the Gaps63; -- Summary -- 3 Grand Water Challenges and Research Questions -- Research Criteria -- Research Areas -- Summary -- 4 Implementing Environmental Observatories -- Coordination of Environmental Observatories -- CLEANER Cyberinfrastructure Issues -- Dissemination44; Outreach44; and Education -- Some Necessary Conditions -- Summary -- References -- Acronyms -- Appendixes -- Appendix A Water Science and Technology Board -- Appendix B Biographical Sketches for Committee on the Collaborative Large45;scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research 40;CLEANER41; -- Last Page
Summary
Degradation of the nation's water resources threatens the health of humans and the functioning of natural ecosystems. To help better understand the causes of these adverse impacts and how they might be more effectively mitigated, especially in urban and human-stressed aquatic systems, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has proposed the establishment of a Collaborative Large-scale Engineering Analysis Network for Environmental Research (CLEANER). This program would provide a platform for near-real-time and conventional data collection and analysis; improve understanding and prediction of processes controlling large-scale environmental and hydrologic systems; help explain human-induced impacts on the environment; and help identify more effective adaptive management approaches to mitigate adverse impacts of human activities on water and land resources. At NSF's request, the National Academies undertook a review this proposed program. The resultant report recommends that NSF proceed with its planning, implementation, and intra- and interagency coordination activities for the program, as a successful environmental observatory network could transform the environmental engineering profession and increase its already considerable contributions to society
