How to make advances in hydrological modelling

After some background about what I have learned from a career in hydrological modelling, I present some opinions about how we might make progress in improving hydrological models in future, including how to decide whether a model is fit for purpose; how to improve process representations in hydrological models; and how to take advantage of Models of Everywhere. Underlying all those issues, however, is the fundamental problem of improving the hydrological data available for both forcing and evaluating hydrological models. It would be a major advance if the hydrological community could come together to prioritise and commission the new observational methods that are required to make real progress.

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