Hydrology Field Trip to the headwaters of the Danube, Rhine and Rhone Rivers

During this years Hydrology Field Trip, students from the German Master Hydrology Course went to the headwaters of the Danube, Rhine and Rhone Rivers. The program included:

• Karst hydrology at Blue Spring, Danube sinkholes, Aach Spring
• Hydropower: Visiting underground power station of the Illwerke in the Montafon region and the KWO Grimselstrom
• Rockslide site in Flims and Ruinaulta
• Continental water divide: Oberalp pass, Furka pass, Grimsel pass
• Alpine hydrology: Rhone glacier und Aletsch glacier
• Flood protection measures at the Saltina River in Brigg
• Lake Constance: International Rhine regulation, Rhine Falls

Signs of drought and climate change were clearly evident: Low flows and water levels and high water temperatures in rain-dominated rivers and Lake Constance. On the other hand, massive glacier retreat and record flow rates in glacier dominated headwater catchments.