A Novel Attitude on Classical Hydrology

Due to increasing human activities and its impacts on the environment and water resources, a paradigm shift in hydrological modeling is inevitable. For better modeling of basins’ hydrological behavior, especially with considering the human influences, hydrologist should have an appropriate understanding of the hydrology, models and modeling. By definition, hydrology, which describes the behavior of water above, over and through the Earth, is a multi-disciplinary science which investigates the relationship between the earth and life sciences. There are two approaches for hydrological modeling, Newtonian and Darwinian, based on which the bottom-up and top-down approaches were developed. Considering the pros and cons of each approach, combination of the bottom-up and top-down approaches can help to a better understanding and modeling of the hydrological system of the basins. In this paper, we discuss the novel approach and its challenges in hydrological modeling. Based on the previous studies, we must change our approach to model hydrological systems for a better understanding of the complex coupled human-environmental systems. Emerging the new sciences of socio hydrology and sustainability science indicates the undeniable role of humans in the environment and the importance of sustainable development. To reach a sustainable development, it is crucial to empower the young hydrologists to cope with the new water resources challenges in a changing world by reframing hydrology education.