Hydrological modelling: zoom on Hydrocourse 2016

In the framework of its activities in environmental research, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) jointly organized with the University of Adelaide (AU) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag - CH) the fifth edition of Hydrocourse . The event took place at LIST’s premises in Belvaux (LU) on April 11-15, 2016.

Hydrocourse is a week-long summer school on hydrological modelling. This year the course attracted 20 participants from different European countries. Hydrocourse experts, Patrick Matgen (LIST) and his partners Dmitri Kavetski (University of Adelaide) and Fabrizio Fenizia (Eawag) participated in a short post-event interview, giving an overview of the course and the research topic.

About Hydrocourse and LIST

The course aims to expose students to the technical aspects of hydrological modelling, including numerical implementation, uncertainty analytics, and conceptual model building. “A good modeller needs to have a solid understanding of how a catchment works in terms of hydrological processes, but also to be a good programmer, a good mathematician, a good statistician, etc. (…) The Hydrocourse collects the information useful to hydrological modellers, and delivers it in language familiar to most people working in the field of hydrological modelling. In addition to theory, participants have the opportunity to test their knowledge using exercises, which take place in the afternoons of each day.” explained Fabrizio Fenicia (Eawag), co-organizer of the event. He went on:

“LIST has a strong tradition in hydrological research, especially in experimental fieldwork. The ability to relate modelling results to experimental insights collected during decades of fieldwork is extremely valuable for the course objectives. The students have the opportunity to visit LIST’s experimental catchments, observe the measurement network, and talk to the researchers that are undertaking the experimental work.”

Hydrocourse – A way to improve dialogue about modellers and experimentalists

“Modellers and experimentalists have the same objective of understanding the hydrological system. However, these shared goals are often “lost in translation”: modellers and experimentalists speak “different languages”, and operate in different dimensions.” says Dmitri Kavtski.

“During the Hydroschool, the students are asked to develop perceptual models of the catchments visited during the field trip, and to translate them into numerical models, using the techniques learned during the course. By doing this, one can really see the utility of experimental understanding in the process of model development. On the other hand, we also show how mathematical models can be useful to experimentalists, and help them better understand and interpret their data. We therefore show how the exchange between modellers and experimentalists can work in practice and how it is mutually beneficial.”

To go further

In addition to the Hydrocourse, the lecturers have collaborated with the LIST staff on several projects and papers. Fabrizio Fenicia and Dmitri Kavetski have contributed to the CAOS project, a large consortium project funded by the FNR and the German Research Fund which advanced our understanding of the spatial organization of hydrological processes. “The insights gathered by LIST researchers in the experimental Luxembourgish catchments were critical for this project. We hope to maintain this fruitful collaboration, and Hydrocourse provides each year a great opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss current work and envisage new research projects and directions” concludes Patrick Matgen.

>> We invite you to read the full interview given by our experts in hydrology > www.hydrocourse.list.lu/back-to-the-event.

>> Find more information on the environmental activities at LIST.