ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the background to the technical content of this book. It explains the necessity of using spectral analysis methods for characterization of hydrologic variables. The shortcomings of conventional methods of spectral analysis are presented in brief and the scope of performing spectral analysis of hydrologic variables in multiple time scales and the potential methods for the same are presented. The lacunae between theoretical concepts of spectral analysis methods and their practical utility is a major concern for the hydrologic modeler. So the scope of applying multiscale spectral analysis methods for addressing different kinds of problems in hydrology are presented in brief, which are demonstrated in the subsequent chapters of the book. In addition, the organization of the book content is presented at the end of this chapter.
