Topics of the research group

Under the leadership of Dr. Ivo Baselt, the research group focuses on various aspects of running waters in alpine regions and the associated natural hazards. Alpine streams, serving as a crucial link between alpine mass movements and downstream watercourses, represent an important interdisciplinary field of research. The scientific investigations particularly span the following disciplines:

• Geology, Geography and Geophysics: geological characteristics of the catchment area, hydrogeological properties of the soil, topography, land use
• Catchment Hydrology: seasonal climate, weather, and temperature patterns, precipitation events, and surface runoff formation
• Hydrodynamics in torrent channels: measurement, analysis, and forecasting of discharge, flow velocity, and flow depth; derivation of relevant bed shear stresses
• Flood Forecasting and Management: development of methods for predicting flood events in torrents; planning of flood protection and management measures
• Geomorphology and Hydromorphodynamics: morphological characteristics of torrents, shape of riverbeds and banks; investigation of sediment transport processes, erosion, and deposition
• Torrent Control Engineering: investigation and design of control and protection structures to prevent or mitigate natural hazards; bed and bank stabilisation, river regulation, combined technical-biological protection measures, nature-based solutions, instream river training
• Ecology, Aquatic Systems and Biodiversity: assessment of the impact of torrents on surrounding ecosystems and biodiversity; study of how plants and animals adapt to the specific conditions in torrents
• Climate Change Adaptation: analysis of the effects of climate change on alpine torrent catchments and the development of adaptation strategies