GeoPUB - Aerogeophysics (i.e. Airborne Passive L-Band-Radiometer Measurements) and ground measurements to investigate and validate the spatial soil moisture distribution (HÖ-30)

Project Management: Dr. Wolfgang KOLLMANN, Geological Survey of Austria
Duration: 3 years (beginning 2005)


Abstract

In the proposed project a detailed investigation in two small areas is planned. Most of the datasets are already available and they will be incorporated into a GIS-System and a ground-truthing of the airborne measurements will be done. The existing software for calculating soil moisture will be improved and a runoff and soil moisture model will be developed. In addition there is an irrigation experiment planned and it will be used to investigate the temporal change of soil moisture. This project has two aims. The first is to examine how apparent spatial statistical properties of soil moisture change with the measurement scale. The second is to examine whether standard geostatistical techniques are applicable to organised soil moisture patterns. The main feature of this project is that we use in-situ soil moisture data togehther with a very high spatial resolution by airborne mapping. In a second step these results will be transferred to a different area followed by ground measurements and an aerogeophysical survey at different times. Building up on these results it should be clear, which demand on information is necessary to model soil moisture and runoff and how good the quality of this information has to be. A research on the available and future spaceborne measurement platforms will be done together with a cost benefit analysis including possible alternatives like helicopter, fixed wing or unmanned aerial vehicles.


Contact:
Dr. Wolfgang Kollmann
Geological Survey of Austria
Neulinggasse 38, 1031 Vienna
T +43 1 7125674-330
F +43 1 7125674-57
kolwal@cc.geolba.ac.at

Dynamik der Bodenfeuchte in unbeobachteten Einzugsgebieten (HÖ-31)

Project Management: Prof. Dr. Günter BLÖSCHL, Institute for Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Vienna University of Technology
Duration: 3 years (beginning 2004)


Abstract

Spatial and temporal dynamics of soil moisture in ungauged basins

The aim of this project is to identify methods of estimating the space-time dynamics of hydrologically relevant soil moisture for Austrian conditions with a focus on catchments without runoff measurements. The project idea is to combine two sources of information on soil moisture - hydrological models and scatterometer satellite data. The rationale behind this combination is that even though both sources are associated with significant uncertainty it is their combination that helps reduce the uncertainty of the integrated estimates because of the different error structures of the two types of estimates. Estimation of soil moisture for ungauged catchments (i.e. without runoff data) takes advantage of the simulations of the hydrological model and the scatterometer data that extend over the ungauged catchments. The methods are tested for Austrian catchments and their predictive uncertainty is assessed.


Contact:
Prof. Dr. Günter Blöschl
Institute for Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering
Vienna University of Technology
Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna
T +43 1 58801-22315
F +43 1 58801-22399
bloeschl@hydro.tuwien.ac.at

Abflussbildung unter geänderten Umweltbedingungen - Modellansätze und Vergleichbarkeit (Pilotstudie)

Project Management: Prof. DI Dr. Hubert HOLZMANN, Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

The impact of a changing environment on runoff processes

Extreme hydrological events like floods and droughts are often considered as consequences of changing climatic and environmental conditions. With respect to the high complexity of the natural water regime the direct relation between the driving forces like changes in rainfall, temperature and land use and the dependent runoff behaviour can not so easily be identified. This is caused by the unpreciseness of the forecasted climate change scenarios but also on the difficulty to define homogeneous reference periods in the past. The runoff process is formed by different subprocesses like surface runoff, interflow and baseflow, where each of them exhibits different sensitivities to changing boundary conditions. In this project, which is designed as a kind of pre-feasibility study, the state of science in the field of process based water transport modelling will be identified, some innovative concepts like dynamic and modular approaches will be applied and furthermore a concept for a full research project proposal will be prepared.


Contact:
Prof. DI Dr. Hubert Holzmann
Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna
hubert.holzmann@boku.ac.at

Predictability of runoff in a changing environment (Pilot study)

Project Management: Prof. DI Dr. Günter BLÖSCHL, Institute for Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering,Vienna University of Technology
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

This pilot project reviews recent projects related to the predictability of runoff. As a preliminary analysis, this pilot project will examine the effect any changes in the forcing may have on the runoff regime for a small number of catchments. This will allow us to obtain preliminary findings on the relative changes of runoff in different times of the year and on the sensitivity of runoff to changes in precipitation and air temperature.


Contact:
Prof. DI Dr. Günter Blöschl
Institute for Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering
Vienna University of Technology
Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna
T +43 1 58801-22315
F +43 1 58801-22399
bloeschl@hydro.tuwien.ac.at

Statistische versus Distanzinterpolation in der operationellen Niederschlagsanalyse bei kurzen Dauerstufen (Pilotstudie)

Project Management: Dr. Thomas HAIDEN, Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

Statistical versus distance interpolation in operational precipitation analysis for short time intervals

Meteorological input for operational flood forecasting in Austria is provided by ZAMG in the form of high-resolution (1 km) analyses and forecasts of the INCA system (Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis). Precipitation analyses are computed in 15 minute intervals from a combination of station interpolation and radar data. For the station interpolation, geometrical distance weighting is currently used. Work done at the IMG has shown, however, that in topographically structured terrain it can be an advantage to use a statistical weighting method instead of the geometrical distance weighting. The objective of the pilot project is an investigation of the added value in analysis quality that can be obtained for short time intervals (15 min, 1 h) by using a statistical weighting method developed at the IMG. There will be TAWES and SYNOP station data used from ZAMG, as well as station data of the Austrian hydrological station network. Tests will be carried out with different numbers of nearest stations used, and with variable exponents in the statistical weighting. Results will be verified using the method of cross-validation.


Contact:
Dr. Thomas Haiden
Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria
Hohe Warte 38, 1190 Vienna
T +43 1 36026-2322
F +43 1 36026-2320
thomas.haiden@zamg.ac.at

Future streamflow scenario for snow- and ice dominated regions and its uncertainty originating from temporal transformation of index-based snow- and ice melt algorithms (Pilot study)

Project Management: Dr. Wolfgang SCHÖNER, Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Contact:
Dr. Wolfgang Schöner
Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Austria
Hohe Warte 38, 1190 Vienna
T +43 1 36026-2280
F +43 1 36026-72
wolfgang.schoener@zamg.ac.at

INTERFLOW - Contributions of shallow interflow in continous rain to runoff in a small alpine mikro-catchment (Pilot study)

Project Management: Gerhard MARKART, Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Institut für Naturgefahren und Waldgrenzregionen
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

The pilot study is designed to develop a path to assessment of lateral conductivity values and flow velocities for shallow subsurface flow in a sediment complex in a small sub-catchment of the Tyrolean Alps (Military training centre Lizum/Walchen). This target shall be reached by long-time irrigation applying a total water precipitation amount of about 300 mm at the investigated slope. Changes in soil moisture content will be investigated by use of buryable TDR-probes installed in several soil profiles and different soil depth. Documentation of sterical advance of wetting front will be documented by conducting repeated geoelectic measures (before irrigation, during the rain simulation experiment, within breaks and after ending of the experiment). Investigations will be complemented by simultaneous runoff measurements under different system-conditions (dry weather discharge, humid weather discharge, etc.). Based on these results derivation of a bandwidth of interflow velocity for a small sub-catchment shall become possible.


Contact:
Gerhard Markart
Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW)
Institut für Naturgefahren und Waldgrenzregionen
Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck
T +43 512 573933
F +43 512 573933-5250
gerhard.markart@uibk.ac.at

Hydrogeological Characterisation and Modelling of Spring Catchments in a Changing Environment (Pilot study)

Project Management: Prof. Dr. Steffen BIRK, Institute for Earth Sciences, University of Graz
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

This project aims at providing an overview and discussion of the currently available modelling and characterisation approaches that can potentially be applied to simulate subsurface flow and transport processes at catchment scale. To this end, methods, results, and conclusions from earlier and current research will be compiled, particularly focussing on the predictive capabilities of the various approaches in a changing environment as well as on techniques that can be employed for quantifying prediction uncertainty. Based on this compilation research needs will be identified. These may concern modelling approaches adapted to the scarcity of available data typical of many spring catchments as well as characterisation techniques designed to provide information needed for predictive modelling at the catchment scale. Finally, recommendations will be made how these aspects can be adequately addressed in subsequent research.


Contact:
Prof. Dr. Steffen Birk
Institute for Earth Sciences
University of Graz
Heinrichstr. 26, 8010 Graz
T +43 316 380-5583
F +43 316 380-9870
steffen.birk@uni-graz.at

Integrated Modelling of the Hydrological Cycle in a Changing Climate

Project Management: Mag. Dr. Andreas GOBIET, Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change, University of Graz
Duration: 1 year (beginning 2008)


Abstract

Hydrological models are strongly determined by the availability of meteorological boundary conditions. Particularly on regional and local scales meteorological measurements often lack the desired spatial density for this purpose. In addition, observation-driven models are not capable of simulating future climate scenarios or to describe feedbacks into the atmosphere. The main objective of the project IMHC is to set up a coupled model system which is dedicated to optimise the interface between the atmospheric and the hydrological model components and to simulate the hydrological impacts of global climate change on regional and local scales. In the pilot phase (IMHC-Pilot), die basis for one-way coupling of an atmospheric model with an integrated hydrological model and a glacier model is established, but following the ideas of global earth system modelling, the regional model framework will be implemented in a flexible way that allows feedback between the model components and the addition of further components at a later stage.


Contact:
Mag. Dr. Andreas Gobiet
Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change
University of Graz
Leechgasse 25, 8010 Graz
T +43 316 380-8448
F +43 316 380-9830
andreas.gobiet@uni-graz.at
www.wegcenter.at