Changes in snowmelt and rain-on-snow runoff in mountainous catchments
| Thesis title in Czech: | Změny v tání sněhu a odtoku při událostech deště na sníh v horských povodích |
|---|---|
| Thesis title in English: | Changes in snowmelt and rain-on-snow runoff in mountainous catchments |
| Key words: | tání sněhu, události deště na sníh, odtok, přechodová zóna déšť-sníh, klimatická změna |
| English key words: | snowmelt, rain-on-snow events, runoff, rain-snow transition zone, climate change |
| Academic year of topic announcement: | 2018/2019 |
| Thesis type: | dissertation |
| Thesis language: | angličtina |
| Department: | Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology (31-330) |
| Supervisor: | doc. RNDr. Michal Jeníček, Ph.D. |
| Author: | RNDr. Ondřej Hotový, Ph.D. - assigned by the advisor |
| Date of registration: | 03.10.2018 |
| Date of assignment: | 08.10.2018 |
| Date of electronic submission: | 05.08.2024 |
| Date of proceeded defence: | 10.09.2024 |
| Opponents: | RNDr. Ladislav Holko, Ph.D. |
| prof. Dr. Juraj Parajka | |
| Preliminary scope of work |
| Alpine catchments are largely influenced by snow, but an increasing proportion of precipitation is expected to fall as rain in the future. As a result, snow storage is expected to decrease, which, together with changes in snowmelt rates and timing, could lead to changes in extreme winter and spring runoff.
Many studies show that changes in seasonal snow cover and their influence on annual/seasonal runoff have been widely investigated. However, there is still limited information on how changes in snowpack affect runoff extremes, such as high or low flows, including rain-on-snow events, and how it will change in the future due to projected changes in air temperature and precipitation. Therefore, the objectives of this PhD project are 1) to analyse the main drivers of snowmelt in a small mountainous forested catchment, 2) to simulate the effect of the predicted increase in air temperature and consequent decrease in snowfall on winter and spring runoff extremes, and 3) to explain the role of elevation and catchment characteristics in snowmelt runoff generation. The project solution will combine the analysis of small scale measured data and larger scale modelling approaches across mountainous catchments in Central Europe. Modelling approaches will be used to simulate the effects of projected climate change on snow storage, snowmelt and resulting runoff. |
| Preliminary scope of work in English |
| Alpine catchments are largely influenced by snow, but an increasing proportion of precipitation is expected to fall as rain in the future. As a result, snow storage is expected to decrease, which, together with changes in snowmelt rates and timing, could lead to changes in extreme winter and spring runoff.
Many studies show that changes in seasonal snow cover and their influence on annual/seasonal runoff have been widely investigated. However, there is still limited information on how changes in snowpack affect runoff extremes, such as high or low flows, including rain-on-snow events, and how it will change in the future due to projected changes in air temperature and precipitation. Therefore, the objectives of this PhD project are 1) to analyse the main drivers of snowmelt in a small mountainous forested catchment, 2) to simulate the effect of the predicted increase in air temperature and consequent decrease in snowfall on winter and spring runoff extremes, and 3) to explain the role of elevation and catchment characteristics in snowmelt runoff generation. The project solution will combine the analysis of small scale measured data and larger scale modelling approaches across mountainous catchments in Central Europe. Modelling approaches will be used to simulate the effects of projected climate change on snow storage, snowmelt and resulting runoff. |