---
OA_place: publisher
OA_type: hybrid
_id: '22529'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: Mountainous catchments cover a broad range of elevations and their response
to a warming climate is expected to vary significantly in space. Nevertheless,
studies on climate change impacts typically examine the changes in flow statistics
only at the catchment outlet. In this study, we instead demonstrate the high variability
of the hydrological response to climate change at the sub-catchment scale, investigating
in detail the contribution of all components of the hydrological cycle in two
mountainous catchments (Thur and Kleine Emme) in the Swiss Alps. The analysis
was conducted with a two-dimensional weather generator model that simulated gridded
climate variables at an hourly and 2-km resolution until the end of the 21st century
for the RCP8.5 emission scenario. The climate ensemble was used as input into
a distributed hydrological model to estimate the changes in hydrological processes
at 100-m and hourly resolutions. Climate models show that precipitation intensifies
during winter but weakens during summer in the order of ± 5–10% toward the end
of the century. Temperature will rise by up to 4°C, leading to a 50% reduction
in snowmelt, 10% increase in evapotranspiration, and shift in precipitation type
from snowfall to rainfall. As a result, streamflow is projected to increase by
40% in winter but decrease by 20% to 40% during summer, with winter floods becoming
more frequent. The changes to streamflow (mean and extreme low and high flows)
at the sub-catchments show a strong dependency with elevation. In contrast to
the small changes projected at the outlet of the catchments, streamflow shows
a reduction at higher elevations (up to −20% change in mean streamflow for sub-catchments
at elevations exceeding 1400 m) and an increase at lower elevations (up to +5%
for Kleine Emme and +20% for the Thur at elevations below 600 m). These impacts
are tied to the changes in precipitation, as well as changes in snowmelt (at high
elevation) and evapotranspiration (at low elevation). The results reveal the causes
and diversity of hydrological response to climate change, emphasizing the importance
of investigating the distributed impacts of climate change in mountainous environments.
article_number: '126806'
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Jorge Sebastián
full_name: Moraga, Jorge Sebastián
last_name: Moraga
- first_name: Nadav
full_name: Peleg, Nadav
last_name: Peleg
- first_name: Simone
full_name: Fatichi, Simone
id: cf8e546b-a9b0-11f0-a43b-aa89ed1b56d6
last_name: Fatichi
- first_name: Peter
full_name: Molnar, Peter
last_name: Molnar
- first_name: Paolo
full_name: Burlando, Paolo
last_name: Burlando
citation:
ama: Moraga JS, Peleg N, Fatichi S, Molnar P, Burlando P. Revealing the impacts
of climate change on mountainous catchments through high-resolution modelling.
Journal of Hydrology. 2021;603. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806
apa: Moraga, J. S., Peleg, N., Fatichi, S., Molnar, P., & Burlando, P. (2021).
Revealing the impacts of climate change on mountainous catchments through high-resolution
modelling. Journal of Hydrology. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806
chicago: Moraga, Jorge Sebastián, Nadav Peleg, Simone Fatichi, Peter Molnar, and
Paolo Burlando. “Revealing the Impacts of Climate Change on Mountainous Catchments
through High-Resolution Modelling.” Journal of Hydrology. Elsevier, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806.
ieee: J. S. Moraga, N. Peleg, S. Fatichi, P. Molnar, and P. Burlando, “Revealing
the impacts of climate change on mountainous catchments through high-resolution
modelling,” Journal of Hydrology, vol. 603. Elsevier, 2021.
ista: Moraga JS, Peleg N, Fatichi S, Molnar P, Burlando P. 2021. Revealing the impacts
of climate change on mountainous catchments through high-resolution modelling.
Journal of Hydrology. 603, 126806.
mla: Moraga, Jorge Sebastián, et al. “Revealing the Impacts of Climate Change on
Mountainous Catchments through High-Resolution Modelling.” Journal of Hydrology,
vol. 603, 126806, Elsevier, 2021, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806.
short: J.S. Moraga, N. Peleg, S. Fatichi, P. Molnar, P. Burlando, Journal of Hydrology
603 (2021).
das_tickbox: '1'
date_created: 2026-07-27T12:30:24Z
date_published: 2021-12-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-08-06T14:31:25Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806
extern: '1'
intvolume: ' 603'
keyword:
- Catchment modelling
- Climate change impacts
- Weather generator
- Distributed hydrological model
- Streamflow extremes
- Hydrological response
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126806
month: '12'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
publication: Journal of Hydrology
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 1879-2707
issn:
- 0022-1694
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Revealing the impacts of climate change on mountainous catchments through high-resolution
modelling
tmp:
image: /images/cc_by_nc_nd.png
legal_code_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode
name: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
short: CC BY-NC-ND (4.0)
type: journal_article
user_id: ba8df636-2132-11f1-aed0-ed93e2281fdd
volume: 603
year: '2021'
...
---
OA_type: closed access
_id: '22510'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: This study advances mechanistic interpretation of predictability challenges
in hydro-geomorphology related to the role of soil moisture spatial variability.
Using model formulations describing the physics of overland flow, variably saturated
subsurface flow, and erosion and sediment transport, this study explores (1) why
a basin with the same mean soil moisture can exhibit distinctly different spatial
moisture distributions, (2) whether these varying distributions lead to non-unique
hydro-geomorphic responses, and (3) what controls non-uniqueness in relation to
the response type. Two sets of numerical experiments are carried out with two
physically-based models, HYDRUS and tRIBS+VEGGIE+FEaST, and their outputs are
analyzed with respect to pre-storm moisture state. The results demonstrate that
distinct spatial moisture distributions for the same mean wetness arise because
near-surface soil moisture dynamics exhibit different degrees of coupling with
deeper-soil moisture and the process of subsurface drainage. The consequences
of such variations are different depending on the type of hydrological response.
Specifically, if the predominant runoff response is of infiltration excess type,
the degree of non-uniqueness is related to the spatial distribution of near-surface
moisture. If runoff is governed by subsurface stormflow, the extent of deep moisture
contributing area and its “readiness to drain” determine the response characteristics.
Because the processes of erosion and sediment transport superimpose additional
controls over factors governing runoff generation and overland flow, non-uniqueness
of the geomorphic response can be highly dampened or enhanced. The explanation
is sediment composed by multi-size particles can alternate states of mobilization
or surface shielding and the transient behavior is inherently intertwined with
the availability of mobile particles. We conclude that complex nonlinear dynamics
of hydro-geomorphic processes are inherent expressions of physical interactions.
As complete knowledge of watershed properties, states, or forcings will always
present the ultimate, if ever resolvable, challenge, deterministic predictability
will remain handicapped. Coupling of uncertainty quantification methods and space-time
physics-based approaches will need to evolve to facilitate mechanistic interpretations
and informed practical applications.
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Jongho
full_name: Kim, Jongho
last_name: Kim
- first_name: M. Chase
full_name: Dwelle, M. Chase
last_name: Dwelle
- first_name: Stephanie K.
full_name: Kampf, Stephanie K.
last_name: Kampf
- first_name: Simone
full_name: Fatichi, Simone
id: cf8e546b-a9b0-11f0-a43b-aa89ed1b56d6
last_name: Fatichi
- first_name: Valeriy Y.
full_name: Ivanov, Valeriy Y.
last_name: Ivanov
citation:
ama: Kim J, Dwelle MC, Kampf SK, Fatichi S, Ivanov VY. On the non-uniqueness of
the hydro-geomorphic responses in a zero-order catchment with respect to soil
moisture. Advances in Water Resources. 2016;92:73-89. doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.019
apa: Kim, J., Dwelle, M. C., Kampf, S. K., Fatichi, S., & Ivanov, V. Y. (2016).
On the non-uniqueness of the hydro-geomorphic responses in a zero-order catchment
with respect to soil moisture. Advances in Water Resources. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.019
chicago: Kim, Jongho, M. Chase Dwelle, Stephanie K. Kampf, Simone Fatichi, and Valeriy
Y. Ivanov. “On the Non-Uniqueness of the Hydro-Geomorphic Responses in a Zero-Order
Catchment with Respect to Soil Moisture.” Advances in Water Resources.
Elsevier, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.019.
ieee: J. Kim, M. C. Dwelle, S. K. Kampf, S. Fatichi, and V. Y. Ivanov, “On the non-uniqueness
of the hydro-geomorphic responses in a zero-order catchment with respect to soil
moisture,” Advances in Water Resources, vol. 92. Elsevier, pp. 73–89, 2016.
ista: Kim J, Dwelle MC, Kampf SK, Fatichi S, Ivanov VY. 2016. On the non-uniqueness
of the hydro-geomorphic responses in a zero-order catchment with respect to soil
moisture. Advances in Water Resources. 92, 73–89.
mla: Kim, Jongho, et al. “On the Non-Uniqueness of the Hydro-Geomorphic Responses
in a Zero-Order Catchment with Respect to Soil Moisture.” Advances in Water
Resources, vol. 92, Elsevier, 2016, pp. 73–89, doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.019.
short: J. Kim, M.C. Dwelle, S.K. Kampf, S. Fatichi, V.Y. Ivanov, Advances in Water
Resources 92 (2016) 73–89.
das_tickbox: '1'
date_created: 2026-07-27T12:30:24Z
date_published: 2016-07-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-08-06T07:50:36Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.019
extern: '1'
intvolume: ' 92'
keyword:
- Soil moisture
- Spatial heterogeneity
- Hydrological response
- Geomorphic response
- Non-uniqueness
- Hydraulic connectivity
language:
- iso: eng
month: '07'
oa_version: None
page: 73-89
publication: Advances in Water Resources
publication_identifier:
issn:
- 0309-1708
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: On the non-uniqueness of the hydro-geomorphic responses in a zero-order catchment
with respect to soil moisture
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 92
year: '2016'
...