Hydroclimatological data and analyses from a headwaters region of Mongolia as boundary objects in interdisciplinary climate change research

doi:10.1007/s11707-017-0644-1

Front. Earth Sci.

2017, Vol. 11

Issue (3) : 457-468 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-017-0644-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Hydroclimatological data and analyses from a headwaters region of Mongolia as boundary objects in interdisciplinary climate change research

N.B.H. VENABLE(

)

ESS-Watershed Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1476, USA

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Abstract

Collaborative work on increasingly complex hydroclimatic investigations often crosses disciplinary boundaries. Elements of scientific inquiry, such as data or the results of analyses can become objectified, or capable of being adopted and/or adapted by users from multiple disciplinary realms. These objects often provide a bridge for collaborative endeavors, or are used as tools by individuals pursuing multi-disciplinary work. Boundary object terminology was first formalized and applied by social scientists. However, few examples of the application of this useful framework are found in the hydrologic literature. The construct is applied here to identify and discuss how common research products and processes are used both internally and externally through providing examples from a project examining the historical and paleo proxy-based hydroclimatology of a headwaters region of Mongolia. The boundary object concept is valuable to consider when conducting and critiquing basic research, collaborating across multiple disciplinary teams as when studying climate change issues, as an individual researcher working in a cross boundary sense using methods from differing disciplines to answer questions, and/or when one group adapts the work of another to their own research problems or interpretive needs, as occurred with selected products of this project.

Keywords Mongolia boundary objects climate change hydroclimate

Corresponding Author(s): N.B.H. VENABLE

Just Accepted Date: 24 February 2017 Online First Date: 07 April 2017 Issue Date: 12 July 2017

Cite this article:

N.B.H. VENABLE. Hydroclimatological data and analyses from a headwaters region of Mongolia as boundary objects in interdisciplinary climate change research[J]. Front. Earth Sci., 2017, 11(3): 457-468.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-017-0644-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y2017/V11/I3/457

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