We will evaluate atmospheric and terrestrial water budget components derived from long-term time series of observations and models. Through analysis of daily through climatological estimates of various water budget components over the central United States, we will discuss: - How well can we close water budgets over continental scale areas? - What do we learn about water budgets from observations and from models? - What are advantages and challenges of using different sources of data? - What are "error bars" on individual terms of water balance equations? - How are wet and dry episodes reflected in time series of water budget parameters?

Our studies are based on observed upper-air, river discharge and rainfall data from different networks over the US, and on estimates from different model assimilation systems. Discussion on how well we describe water budgets over GCIP/GAPP CSA area may be of help for accessing the accuracy of the water budgets over the NAME domain.