A5088323296- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Climate change and permafrost
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Landslides and related hazards
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Climate variability and models
- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Arctic and Antarctic ice dynamics
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Precipitation Measurement and Analysis
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation
- Geophysical Methods and Applications
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Groundwater flow and contamination studies
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
2014-2024
Charles River Laboratories (Netherlands)
2024
Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
2011-2021
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2018-2020
Northumbria University
2015-2019
ETH Zurich
2015-2019
Norsk Hydro (Germany)
2019
Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos
2016
Institute of Environmental Engineering
2015
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
1999-2003
Abstract In many practical applications snow depth is known, but water equivalent (SWE) needed as well. Measuring SWE takes ∼20 times long measuring depth, which in part why measurements outnumber worldwide. Here a method of estimating bulk density presented and then used to convert SWE. The grounded the fact that varies over range greater than density. Consequently, estimates derived from measured depths modeled densities generally fall close values Knowledge climate classes improve...
Thirty‐three snowpack models of varying complexity and purpose were evaluated across a wide range hydrometeorological forest canopy conditions at five Northern Hemisphere locations, for up to two winter snow seasons. Modeled estimates water equivalent (SWE) or depth compared observations open sites each location. Precipitation phase duration above‐freezing air temperatures are shown be major influences on divergence convergence modeled the subcanopy snowpack. When considered collectively all...
Abstract Accurate snow depth observations are critical to assess water resources. More than a billion people rely on from snow, most of which originates in the Northern Hemisphere mountain ranges. Yet, remote sensing still lacking at large scale. Here, we show ability Sentinel-1 map mountains 1 km² resolution using an empirical change detection approach. An evaluation with measurements ~4000 sites and reanalysis data demonstrates that retrievals capture spatial variability between within...
Abstract. Seasonal snow is an essential water resource in many mountain regions. However, the spatio-temporal variability depth or equivalent (SWE) at regional to global scales not well understood due lack of high-resolution satellite observations and robust retrieval algorithms. We investigate ability Sentinel-1 mission monitor sub-kilometer (100 m, 500 1 km) resolutions over European Alps for 2017–2019. The backscatter observations, especially cross-polarization, show a high correlation...
The seasonal evolution of snow cover has significant impacts on the hydrological cycle and microclimate in mountainous regions. However, processes also play a crucial role triggering alpine mass movements flooding, posing risks to people infrastructure. To mitigate these risks, many countries use operational forecast systems for distribution melt. This paper presents Swiss Operational Snow-hydrological (OSHD) model system, developed provide daily analysis forecasts dynamics throughout...
Recent climate models predict future changes in temperature and precipitation the Alps. To assess potential response of alpine plant communities to change, we analyzed specific combined effects temperature, precipitation, snow season timing on growth plants. This analysis is based data from 17 meteorological stations includes records same sites over 10 years. Using multiple regression path analysis, found that was primarily driven by climatic factors controlled season. Air before snow‐up...
Abstract The snow cover in the Alps is heavily affected by climate change. Recent data show that at altitudes below 1200 m a.s.l. a time‐continuous winter becoming an exception rather than rule. This would also change timing and characteristics of river discharge Alpine catchments. We present assessment future runoff two catchments, larger Inn catchment (1945 km 2 ) smaller Dischma (43 ), based on common scenario (IPCC A2 B2 (IPCC, 2007)). [etc]. changes are predicted using Alpine3D, model...
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...
CO 2 exchange between lake water and the atmosphere was investigated at Toolik Lake (Alaska) Soppensee (Switzerland) employing eddy covariance (EC) method. The results obtained from three field campaigns two sites indicate importance of convection in driving gas flux across water‐air interface. Measurements were performed during short (1–3 day) periods with observed diurnal changes stratified convective conditions lakes. Over EC net efflux 114 ± 33 mg C m −2 d −1 , which compares well 131...
Abstract Snow plays a critical role in the water cycle of many mountain regions and heavily populated areas downstream. In this study, changes snow equivalent (SWE) time series from long-term stations five Alpine countries are analyzed. The sites located between 500 3000 m above mean sea level, analysis is mainly based on measurement 1 February (winter) April (spring). investigation was performed over different periods, including last six decades. large majority SWE demonstrate reduction...
Abstract Much effort has been invested in developing snow models over several decades, resulting a wide variety of empirical and physically based models. For the most part, these are built on similar principles. The greatest differences found how each model parameterizes individual processes (e.g., surface albedo compaction). Parameterization choices naturally span range complexities. In this study, we evaluate performance different parameterizations for hydrological applications using an...
Abstract In alpine and high‐latitude regions, water resource decision making often requires large‐scale estimates of snow amounts melt rates. Such are available through distributed models which in some situations can be improved by assimilation remote sensing observations. However, regions with frequent cloud cover, complex topography, or large satellite observations may feature information limited quality. this study, we examine whether equivalent (SWE) data from ground improve model...
Abstract. Information on snow depth and its spatial distribution is crucial for numerous applications in avalanche research as well hydrology ecology. Today, distributions are usually estimated using point measurements performed by automated weather stations observers the field combined with interpolation algorithms. However, these methodologies not able to capture high variability of present alpine terrain. Continuous accurate mapping has been successfully laser scanning but this method can...
Abstract NASA's 2017 SnowEx field campaign at Grand Mesa, CO, generated Airborne Laser Scans (ALS), Terrestrial (TLS), and snow‐probe transects, which allowed for a comparison between snow depth measurement techniques. At six locations, comparisons gridded ALS TLS observations, 1‐m resolution, had median difference of 5 cm, root‐mean‐square 16 mean‐absolute 10 3‐cm in standard deviation. generally greater but similar values to TLS, results were not sensitive the cell size 0.5 m. The greatest...
Abstract The retrieval of detailed, co‐located snow depth and canopy cover information from airborne lidar has advanced our understanding links between forest distribution structure. In this study, we present two recent high‐resolution (1 m) data sets acquired in (i) a 2017 mission the Eastern Swiss Alps (ii) NASA's SnowEx field campaign at Grand Mesa, Colorado. Validation derived maps against extensive manual measurements revealed RMSE 6 3 cm for plot‐level mean standard deviation depth,...
Abstract Data assimilation can help to ensure that model results remain close observations despite potential errors in the model, parameters, and inputs. In this study, we test whether of snow depth using particle filter, a generic data method, improves multilayer energy‐balance compare against direct insertion method. At field site Col de Porte France, filter reduces SWE, snowpack runoff, soil temperature when forcing with coarse resolution reanalysis data, which is typical input scenario...
Abstract Rain-on-snow (ROS) events have caused severe floods in mountainous areas the recent past. Because of complex interactions physical processes, it is still difficult to accurately predict effect snow cover on runoff formation for an upcoming ROS event. In this study, a detailed physics-based energy balance model (SNOWPACK) was used assess processes during more than 1000 historical at 116 locations Swiss Alps. The simulations mass and balance, liquid water flow, temporal evolution...
Abstract. Seasonal snow cover is of great environmental and socio-economic importance for the European Alps. Therefore a high priority has been assigned to quantifying its temporal spatial variability. Complementary land-based monitoring networks, optical satellite observations can be used derive spatially comprehensive information on extent. For understanding long-term changes in alpine extent, data acquired by Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors mounted onboard...
Abstract. Winter snow accumulation obviously has an effect on the following catchment runoff. The question is, however, how long this lasts and important it is compared to rainfall inputs. Here we investigate relative importance of one critical aspect runoff, namely summer low flow. This especially relevant as expected increase air temperature might result in decreased storage. A decrease will affect soil groundwater storages during spring cause streamflow values subsequent warm season. To...