“…This process would be well‐suited to the field of machine learning, which includes “unsupervised” algorithms (which identify patterns in the independent variables without observing the dependent variable), and “supervised” or “active” algorithms (which employ limited observations of the independent variable in order to improve the estimator). A number of recent studies have applied machine‐learning algorithms to topics in hydrology, such as runoff and streamflow estimation [ Solomatine and Shrestha , ; Londhe and Charhate , ], evapotranspiration modeling [ Torres et al ., ], streamflow forecasting [ Rasouli et al ., ], assessment of the contamination of groundwater [ Khalil et al ., ], and estimation of needs for reservoir releases [ Khalil et al ., ; Ticlavilca and McKee , ].…”