Are Hydrologists Wading Through Ideas, Instead of Water?

Hydrologists, like scientists in other fields, walk a thin line between two realms: the tangible world of physical phenomena and the abstract world of concepts and ideas (often called the “ideal” or “metaphysical” realm). In using models to estimate or predict water-related phenomena, water scientists, decision-makers, stakeholders, etc., wade into this ideal realm. It is crucial to recognize that these models are idealized representations of water processes and not the reality in itself, to prevent confusion between ideas about water and the actual water phenomena. This boundary symbolizes an intrinsic paradox within water science and management—the tension between the ideal and the real.