Projects / Programmes
Modellinghydrologicresponseofnonhomogeneouscatchments
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.20.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Hydrology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P500 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Geophysics, physical oceanography, meteorology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.07 |
Engineering and Technology |
Environmental engineering
|
hydrology, environmental tracers, nutrient flushing, watershed, biogeochemical model, hydrological conditions,
water environment, Kars
Researchers (13)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Slovenian territory can be characterised by significant spatial variability of climatological, topographical and geological conditions. The variety of conditions undoubtedly strongly influence the hydrological response of the catchments. In Slovenia, many catchments cannot be considered as hydrologically homogeneous; therefore, rainfall runoff cannot be sufficiently handled with conventional hydrological analyses. Consequently, improper and insufficient hydrological analyses as main input data for further hydraulic analysis, become highly problematic in case of structural–engineering and non-structural–spatial planning of flood protection measures Furthermore, reliable hydrological data will undoubtedly obtain increasing importance in the context of future adaptation of society to climate changeability. The research project will focus on the development and verification of the new methods for analyses of hydrological responses in case of non-homogeneous catchments. These methods, which are state-of-the-art in the field of hydrological analyses, will enable modelling of the hydrological response of non-homogeneous catchments to the rainfall events. Good spatial and temporal coverage of field data (e.g. rainfall, discharge, water chemistry of rainfall runoff components, water balance in streams) is crucial for analyses and modelling of hydrological response of non-homogeneous catchments. Continuous measurements on several hydrological and meteorological stations in the Ljubljanica river experimental catchment will provide the possibility to model individual parts of Ljubljanica river catchments as uniform in sense of hydrological response and characteristics. Continuous measurements of the different hydro–meteorological variables will be supplemented by observations of water chemistry in streams and laboratory analyses of tracers in separate rainfall runoff components. A database, based on temporally continuous measurements, will give us the possibility to efficiently observe and analyse the hydrological conditions of the non-homogeneous catchments. This will further enable the implementation and updating of the state-of-the-art hydrological modelling tools for simulation and prediction purposes. In this way, we will be able to improve our existing hydrological predictions of the hydrological extremes (flood events and droughts) and further, to effectively simulate dynamic of suspended material and dissolved solids transported by water and also to determine their mass balances in various hydrological conditions. The latter is important especially when we want to assess the impacts of the human activities on the ecological state of the water bodies and the ecosystem services the water bodies provide.
Significance for science
From the project proposal is evident, that foreseen researches are from scientific point of view up-to-date; the research will include modern technology for hydrological and water chemistry and isotope monitoring. The contribution of small mountainous river systems and karst systems to the overall water, nutrient and suspended solids budgets is still rather unclear; however, few other investigations showed that it might be of high importance from quantitative point of view. These scientific fields have recently gained great attention also by international research institutions. The proposed project will enable the development of the environmental sciences and professions (in Slovenia) that are actively involved in water management.
Part of our research will link different scientific disciplines, e.g. hydrology, chemistry, biology, environmental sciences. Due to the interdisciplinary approach and uniqueness of the investigated area (karst and torrential areas) the proposed methodology of hydrological and biogeochemical monitoring will be recognized also in the international research space. The contents of the proposed research project is scientifically original, up-to-date and on a high international level.
Significance for the country
The research project will enhance existing understanding of the hydrological conditions in hydrologically non-homogenous catchments by thorough analysis of mutual interactions between hydrological, geological and biogeochemical factors. Improved calculation of the suspended material and solutes mass fluxes flushed from the watersheds will enable defining the contribution of “natural background” and anthropogenic loads of matter that enters aquatic ecosystems. This information is very important from water management point of view. The results of the project will be used for:
- planning of the non-homogenous catchment management,
- planning of the land use by considering flood and erosion related risks,
- planning of structural and non-structural flood protection measures for efficient reduction of economic damage due to floods and droughts,
- defining the impacts of hydrological conditions on ecosystem services provided by water bodies,
- monitoring of the inputs of different types of suspended material and solutes on water bodies (e.g. suspended sediment loads, inputs of nutrients,
- levelling of nutrient loads and budgets loads on water bodies from areas of different land-use
- analysis of sources for municipal water supply,
- designing of water infrastructure for different water management purposes (e.g. drinking water supply, hydropower, irrigation),
- defining drinking water protection areas etc.
Dissemination of the project results and practical meaning of the main findings will be important for the national agencies and institutes and also for the private companies that are dealing with engineering design of flood protection measures and water supply systems.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
