The Model Parameter Estimation Experiment (MOPEX) is funded by NOAA Office of Global Programs to investigate techniques for the a priori parameter estimation for land surface parameterization schemes of atmospheric models and for hydrologic models. A comprehensive database has been developed which contains historical hydrometeorologic time series data and land surface characteristics data for 435 basins in the United States and many international basins. A number of international MOPEX workshops have been convened or planned for MOPEX participants to share their parameter estimation experience. The Second International MOPEX Workshop is scheduled to be held in Tucson, Arizona, April 8-10, 2002. This paper discusses briefly the MOPEX goals and objectives, presents the MOPEX strategy and summarizes the results of the Tucson workshop. Results from our participation in developing and testing of the a priori parameter estimation procedures for the National Weather Service (NWS) Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting (SAC-SMA) model, the Simple Water Balance (SWB) model, and the National Center for Environmental Prediction Center (NCEP) NOAH Land Surface Model (NOAH LSM) are highlighted. The test results will include model simulations using both a priori parameters and calibrated parameters for 12 basins selected for the Tucson MOPEX Workshop.