On the value of a history of hydrology and the establishment of a History of Hydrology Working Group

Abstract

This paper presents some of the reasons for studying the history of hydrology and for the formation of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) History of Hydrology Working Group. In particular, we consider the importance of recording the histories of hydrological data, catchments, diversity in hydrology (of both people and topics), and what can be gained from the historical literature in hydrology. We also consider why the classical concepts of catchment response to rainfall have evolved slowly in hydrology, despite identified limitations, and how the major impetus for change in the 1970s, in the form of techniques for measuring environmental tracers, effectively came from developments outside the discipline. We conclude by speculating whether the questions posed by recent machine learning studies might lead to further change and understanding.