Welcome to Hydrology!
The main focus of research at the Department of Hydrology is the investigation of processes at the interface of groundwater and surface water. This interface is of fundamental importance for numerous processes affecting the quality of surface waters (streams, lakes) as well as groundwater as the two aquatic systems possess different chemical and physical properties. This interface offers ideal conditions for an efficient biological degradation of nutrients and contaminants, meaning that processes at the interface between surface and groundwater contribute considerably to nutrient cycling and buffer capacity in aquatic ecosystems.
The department conducts field, lab and modeling investigations that focus on gaining a quantitative process understanding of aquatic systems and address questions of performance and efficiency of matter processing but also vulnerability of aquatic systems, resulting from climate change or anthropogenic influences in general. The overarching goal is to obtain a better understanding of the coupling of physical and biogeochemical processes that control the cycling of matter and energy at the interface of surface waters and groundwater.
We have four closely linked research priorities:
Recent Publications:
Peer reviewed
2022
Elagami, H., Frei, S., Boos, J., Trommer, G., Gilfedder, B.: Quantifying microplastic residence times in lakes using mesocosm experiments and transport modelling. Water Research, (2022).
doi:10.1016/j.watres.2022.119463
Blaurock, K., Garthen, P., da Silva, M., Beudert, B., Gilfedder, B., Fleckenstein, J., Peiffer, S., Lechtenfeld, O., Hopp, L.: Riparian Microtopography Affects Event-Driven Stream DOC Concentrations and DOM Quality in a Forested Headwater Catchment. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 127(12) (2022).
doi:10.1029/2022JG006831
Brehm, J., Wilde, M., Reiche, L., Leitner, L., Petran, B., Meinhart, M., Wieland, S., Ritschar, S., Schott, M., Boos, J., Frei, S., Kress, H., Senker, J., Greiner, A., Fröhlich, T., Laforsch, C.: In-depth characterization revealed polymer type and chemical content specific effects of microplastic on Dreissena bugensis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 437 (2022).
doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129351