Mountains are called the water towers of the world and are important for our water supply. Glaciers in these mountains are of particular importance, because they can supply water during dry periods in summer. Their melt is often assumed to contribute directly to streamflow via surface runoff. However, recent studies have shown that groundwater is important in mountain catchments, and glacier melt potentially plays a role in aquifer recharge. Studies suggest that glacier melt water may take different flow paths and also contributes to flow outside of the melt season. This has important implications for assessing glacier melt contribution to streamflow and assessing the effects of glacier retreat on downstream water supply.

Set-up, test and run a new version of the hydrological model HBV that includes glacier melt modelling and the groundwater exchange module for one or a few glacierized catchments in Switzerland. Streamflow simulations of this new model version can be compared to observations and model runs that are available without the groundwater exchange process.

Marit van Tiel, Kerstin Stahl

Dr. Marit van Tiel marit.van.tiel@hydrology.uni-freiburg.de

Hydrological modelling with HBV, parameter estimation, sub-catchment delineation

English, Deutsch

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