The objectives of these various activities are consistent with several recent NRC reports that highlight the need for strengthened efforts in hydrologic research and applications. The 21st Century Report⁸ identifies ''Improved understanding of the hydrological cycle and much better measurements of atmospheric water (in all phases). . .'' as one of the emerging ". . .developments that, on the basis of [its] intrinsic value and potential economic and societal payoff, should be given high priority in the coming decades." Similarly, because "water is at the heart of both the causes and effects of climate change," the Pathways Report⁹ rates the water cycle as one of the highest priorities for research and observations. This sentiment is also echoed in the NRC GEWEX Panel's GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project (GCIP) Report.¹⁰

An impressive foundation for water and energy cycle research has been built in the United States by GCIP in the last nine years.¹⁰ GCIP was the first regional GEWEX project to bring together the hydrologic and meteorological science communities for a common research goal focused on water and energy cycling in the coupled land-atmosphere system. This interdisciplinary concept was adopted soon thereafter by several other international hydrometeorological projects (Mackenzie GEWEX Study (MAGS), Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Study in Amazonia (LBA), Baltic Sea Experiment (BALTEX), and GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME)). In addition, GCIP interacts and coordinates planning with the other international GEWEX experiments through its participation in activities under the purview of the GEWEX Hydrometeorology Panel. Building on GCIP advances, the NRC's GCIP Report made several recommendations that, to the extent possible, have been implemented in the final phases of GCIP.

Nevertheless, much work remains to be done to approach the ultimate objectives of GEWEX.¹¹ It has been proposed, therefore, that as GCIP is phased out in 2001–2002, GAPP continue the advancement of U.S. hydrometeorological research applications. The tentative plans for GAPP draw upon the recommendations of the NRC GCIP Report to expand GCIP to the U.S. Southwest, and to develop strong linkages with the water resources management community, while continuing to pursue the core research and observational objectives of GCIP.¹² In addition, GAPP proposes to continue to transfer the new regional modeling techniques, developed within GCIP and other international hydrometeorological research efforts, to global research and