Klimaänderung und Hydrologie (Projekt CCHydro)

The expected reduction of ice volume in the Alps will lead to higher or reduced annual runoff depending on the time scale considered and the glacierized area of the drainage basin. Glacier shrinkage will also affect the timing of the annual peak discharge. These changes in runoff characteristics of high mountain catchments will pose a new challenge to water resource management. The productivity of hydropower systems relying on winter accumulation and summer melt will be affected by these changes and adaptive measures will be necessary for the management of the hydro installations. This project will address these questions in close collaboration with some hydropower companies in Switzerland.