This special issue of Hydrological Processes presents a selection of papers given in sessions organized by the Hydrology Section of the Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU-HS) at its 31st Annual Meeting in Banff, Canada, from 8 to 10 May, 2005. CGU-HS brings together Canadian scientists working in all areas of hydrology. It serves as home to the Canadian National Committee for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (CNC-IAHS), as well as to nine thematic committees, covering topics ranging from Erosion and Sedimentation to River Ice Processes. More information can be found on the CGU-HS Website (http://www.fes.uwaterloo.calu/jsprice/CGU-HS/National/).
The papers submitted in response to the call for papers for the Hydrology Section of the 2005 meeting were organized into a series of thematic sessions on Forest Hydrology, Modelling, Groundwater, Hydro-climatology, Cold Regions and Snow, and General Hydrology. There were also three special sessions: Advances in the Understanding of Wetlands (organized by Dr J. Price), Glacier Change in Western Canada (organized by Dr S. Boon and Dr D. Smith), and The Mackenzie GEWEX Study-Advances in Hydrological Science (organized by Dr M. K. Woo and Mr P. DiCenzo). We were particularly pleased that the special session on Advances in the Understanding of Wetlands generated almost one half of the papers presented in this issue.
A CGU-HS Special Issue of Hydrological Processes has now been published on a regular basis for a number of years. It is viewed as an important outlet for Canadian hydrologists, both to illustrate the breadth of activity in hydrological science taking place across the country and to showcase thematic areas that are emerging as a strong presence within that community. The CGU-HS greatly appreciates this opportunity to display something of the diversity and vitality of Canadian hydrology.
All papers were subjected to peer review of the same standard as for a regular issue of Hydrological Processes.