The Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Continental-scale International Project (GCIP) Enhanced Seasonal Observing Period - 1997 (ESOP-97) takes place in the Upper Mississippi River basin as a data collection effort in a Large Scale Area (LSA) of the entire Mississippi River basin. The Upper Mississippi River basin provides a number of watershed areas that are potentionally useful for focused hydrologic studies. The ESOP-97 dataset constitutes the second GCIP ESOP dataset during the GCIP five year Enhanced Observing Period (EOP).

Objectives:

1. Develop a comprehensive meteorologic and hydrologic dataset for diagnostic, evaluation, and modeling studies in a region where snow is an important hydrologic factor (the LSA-North Central)
2. Conduct studies unique to the LSA-NC during the late fall, winter, and early spring seasons including issues such as frozen soil processes, snow hydrology, among others.