A5016312261- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Climate change and permafrost
- Landslides and related hazards
- Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Climate variability and models
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Seismic Waves and Analysis
- Tree-ring climate responses
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Advanced Chemical Physics Studies
- Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies
- Seismic Imaging and Inversion Techniques
- Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Atmospheric aerosols and clouds
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Water resources management and optimization
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
ETH Zurich
2015-2024
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
2021-2024
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering
2016-2022
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
2001-2010
Abstract The future runoff from three highly glacierized alpine catchments is assessed for the period 2007–2100 using a glacio‐hydrological model including change in glacier coverage. We apply scenarios seasonal temperature and precipitation derived regional climate models. Glacier surface mass balance are calculated daily time‐steps distributed temperature‐index melt accumulation model. Model components account changes extent elevation, evaporation routing. calibrated validated decadal ice...
Abstract Sound knowledge of the ice volume and ice-thickness distribution a glacier is essential for many glaciological applications. However, direct measurements thickness are laborious, not feasible everywhere necessarily restricted to small number glaciers. In this paper, we present method estimate total alpine This based on mass turnover principles ice-flow mechanics. The required input data surface topography, outline set borders delineating different ‘ice-flow catchments’. Three...
Abstract. Global warming is expected to significantly affect the runoff regime of mountainous catchments. Simple methods for calculating future glacier change in hydrological models are required order reliably assess economic impacts changes water cycle over next decades. Models temporal and spatial evolution need describe climate forcing acting on glacier, ice flow dynamics. Flow models, however, demand considerable computational resources field data input moreover not applicable regional...
Glaciers in Switzerland are shrinking rapidly response to ongoing climate change. Repeated glacier inventories key monitor such changes at the regional scale. Here we present new Swiss Glacier Inventory 2016 (SGI2016) that has been acquired based on sub-meter resolution aerial imagery and digital elevation models, bringing together topographical glaciological approaches knowledge. We define process, workflow required adaptations compile a highly detailed inventory Topographic Landscape...
Alpine glaciers have suffered major losses of ice in the last century. We compute spatially distributed seasonal mass balances four Swiss Alps (Grosser Aletschgletscher, Rhonegletscher, Griesgletscher and Silvrettagletscher) for period 1865 to 2006. The balance model is forced by daily air temperature precipitation data compiled from various long‐term series. calibrated using volume changes derived five nine high‐resolution digital elevation models, annual discharge a newly set more than...
Hydropower accounts for about 20% of the worldwide electrical power production. In mountainous regions this ratio is significantly higher. study we present how future projected climatic forcing, as described in regional climate models (RCMs), will affect water resources and subsequently hydropower production downstream plants a glacierized alpine valley (Vispa valley, Switzerland, 778 km 2 ). order to estimate runoff generation production, used error‐corrected downscaled scenarios from...
Abstract The Alps are often referred to as the ‘water tower of Europe’. In Switzerland, many branches economy, especially hydropower industry, closely linked and dependent on availability water. Assessing impact climate change streamflow runoff is, thus, great interest. Major efforts have already been made in this respect, but analyses focus individual catchments difficult intercompare. article, we analysed nine high‐alpine spread over Swiss Alps, selected for their relevance a wide range...
Soils are the product of a complex suite chemical, biological, and physical processes. In spite importance soils for society sustaining life on earth, our knowledge soil formation rates influence biological activity mineral weathering geochemical cycles is still limited. this paper we provide description Damma Glacier Critical Zone Observatory present first synthesis multidisciplinary studies 150‐yr chronosequence. The aim research was to improve understanding ecosystem development barren...
Abstract The evolution of surface topography glaciers in the Swiss Alps is well documented with high-resolution aerial photographs repeatedly recorded since 1960s and further back time topographic maps including elevation contour lines first surveyed mid-19th century. In order to quantify interpret glacier changes Alps, series volume over last 100–150 years have been collected. available datasets provide a detailed spatial resolution for retreat period end Little Ice Age. distribution as...
Abstract The re-analysis of long-term mass-balance time series is important to provide bias-corrected data for climate-change impact studies. A method homogenize comprehensive monitoring programmes presented and applied the nearly 50 year records Griesgletscher Silvrettagletscher, Switzerland. Using a distributed model in daily resolution we correct varying observation dates. Direct point measurements are combined with independent geodetic mass changes, prerequisite thorough homogenization...
Abstract Gornersee, Switzerland, is an ice-marginal lake, which drains almost every year, subglacially, within a few days. We present analysis of the lake outburst events between 1950 and 2005, as well results detailed field investigations related to drainage in 2004 2005. The latter include measurements geometry, water pressure nearby boreholes glacier surface motion. A distributed temperature-index melt model coupled linear-reservoir runoff used calculate hourly discharge from catchment...
Abstract We investigate the performance of five glacier melt models over a multi-decadal period in order to assess their ability model future response. The range from simple degree-day model, based solely on air temperature, more-sophisticated models, including full shortwave radiation balance. In addition empirical physically energy-balance (EB) is examined. are coupled an accumulation and surface evolution applied distributed manner Rhonegletscher, Switzerland, 1929–2012 at hourly...
Thirty new 100‐year records of glacier surface mass balance, accumulation and melt in the Swiss Alps are presented. The time series based on a comprehensive set field data distributed modeling provide insights into glacier‐climate linkage. Considerable loss over 20th century is evident for all glaciers, but rates differ strongly. Glacier shows multidecadal variations was particularly rapid 1940s since 1980s. Mass balance significantly anticorrelated to Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO)...
Abstract In this study we present 19 new or re-analysed series of glacier-wide seasonal mass balance for the Swiss Alps based on direct measurements. The records partly start around 1920 and continue until today. Previously unpublished unevaluated observations point winter annual are compiled from various sources archives. These highly valuable datasets have not yet been consistently evaluated were thus unavailable to scientific community. Using distributed modelling spatial interpolation...
Abstract Accurate knowledge of the ice thickness distribution and glacier bed topography is essential for predicting dynamic changes future developments downstream hydrology, which are impacting energy sector, tourism industry natural hazard management. Using AIR-ETH, a new helicopter-borne ground-penetrating radar (GPR) platform, we measured all large most medium-sized glaciers in Swiss Alps during years 2016–20. Most these had either never or only partially been surveyed before. With this...
Abstract The spatial and temporal distribution of snow accumulation is complex significantly influences the hydrological characteristics mountain catchments. Many redistribution processes, such as avalanching, slushflow or wind drift, are controlled by topography, but their modelling remains challenging. In situ measurements laborious generally have a coarse resolution. this respect, time‐lapse photography shows itself powerful tool for collecting information at relatively low cost without...
Abstract Conventional glacier‐wide mass balances are commonly used to study the effect of climate forcing on glacier melt. Unfortunately, also influenced by glacier's dynamic response. Investigations effects glaciers can be largely improved analyzing point balances. Using a statistical model, we have found that 52% year‐to‐year deviations in six distributed across entire European Alps attributed common variability. Point balance changes reveal remarkable regional consistencies reaching 80%...
Abstract. Light-absorbing impurities in snow and ice control glacier melt as shortwave radiation represents the main component of surface energy balance. Here, we investigate long-term effect impurities, i.e., mineral dust black carbon (BC), on albedo mass The analysis was performed over period 1914–2014 for two sites Claridenfirn, Swiss Alps, where an outstanding 100-year record seasonal balance measurements is available. Information atmospheric deposition BC last century retrieved from...
Abstract Glacier surface mass balance evaluated over the actual glacier geometry depends not only on climatic variations, but also dynamic adjustment of geometry. Therefore, it has been proposed that reference-surface balances calculated a constant hypsometry are better suited for interpretation. Here we present comparison 82 year modelled time series (1926-2008) conventional and 36 Swiss glaciers. Over this period investigated glaciers have lost 22% their area, ice elevation close to...
On the basis of a large data set, comprising approximately 1200 km profile lines acquired with different helicopter-borne ground-penetrating radar (GPR) systems over temperate glaciers in western Swiss Alps, we have analyzed possibilities and limitations using GPR surveying to map ice-bedrock interface. We considered from three acquisition including (1) low-frequency pulsed system hanging below helicopter (BGR), (2) stepped frequency (Radar Systemtechnik GmbH [RST]), (3) commercial mounted...
Because the majority of sediment originates subglacially, as opposed to proglacially, focus must be given subglacial discharge. The latter, however is poorly constrained. We present a transport time-series from two glacierized catchments (Gornergletscher and Aletschgletscher) in Swiss Alps, based on hourly suspended data bedload estimates. This dataset used identify interannual regional variability quantify relationship between water Analysis suggests that access exerts substantial control...
Abstract Glacier mass-balance observations at seasonal resolution have been performed since 1914 two sites on Claridenfirn, Switzerland. The measurements are the longest uninterrupted records of glacier mass balance worldwide. Here, we provide a complete re-analysis 106-year series (1914–2020), focusing both point and glacier-wide balance. approaches to evaluate homogenize direct described in detail. Based conservative assumptions, average uncertainties $\pm$ 0.25 m w.e. estimated for...
The research described in this paper is part of a Swiss National Science Foundation project on ”Mass Balance Determination Glaciers with the Use State‐of‐the‐art Remote Sensing Methods and Numerical Flow Model”. remote sensing methods involve automated processing aerial images laser scanning aim to produce glacier surface models an accuracy about 0.5 1m over time periods 1 5 years. Unteraar glacier, Switzerland, has been chosen test both methods, because it extensively studied by...