Review and Prospect on the Field of Hydrology and Water Resources Contributed by Geographers in Recent 30 Years

Abstract

 This paper overviewed articles categorized in “Type A” of Journal of Japan Society of Hydrology and Water Resources, contributed by geographers in recent 30 years. We also discussed how geographers have contributed to the problems to be solved by around 2020 that were raised at the beginning of 21st century. We defined “the contributions by geographers” as “Type A articles that more than or equal to half of the authors belong to institutes related to geography at the time of publication”. “The contributions by geographers” occupied about 9 % of all articles categorized in “Type A”, and they showed the peak in 2005. The contributions by “Research note” and “Original article” were equal in 2005 which characterizes “the contributions by geographers”. Researches abroad were mainly conducted in Asia, while domestic researches were concentrated in Tsukuba and Tokyo. Mostly cited keywords were “Remote sensing” (7 times), “NDVI”, “Stable isotope”, “Seasonal change”, “Precipitation”, “Vegetation index” and “Snow water equivalent” (4 times for all). In 1990s, data analysis including review paper was the majority of “the contributions by geographers”, while the ratio of observation had increased towards the end of 2000s. In 2010s, the ratios of observation and data analysis were equal such as in the beginning of 2000s. As for the problems to be solved by around 2020, geographers have apparently contributed to editing Hydrological Research Letters, preparation of observed database, discovery of hydrological processes, promoting international cooperative researches, and publication of textbook of hydrology.