Professor Murugesu Sivapalan
·
The focus
of my research is on making predictions of streamflows
in ungauged catchments (i.e., catchments devoid of any streamflow measurements), using all data sets other than
the streamflows, thus avoiding the reliance on
calibration.
·
One basic
aim of the research therefore is to understand observed space-time variabilities of runoff processes (within and between
catchments), including extremes, and to interpret these in terms of the
underlying climate-soil-vegetation-topography interactions.
·
A further
aim is to investigate interactions between runoff processes, and chemical and
biological processes crucial for water quality predictions (salinity,
sediments, nutrients, pesticides etc.).
·
These
theoretical advances will be used in new process-based models to make
predictions of both water quantity and quality, subject to natural and/or
human-induced changes to climate, soil and vegetation, including explicit
quantification of predictive uncertainty.
Major Research Themes
·
Dialogue
with Nature: Climate-Soil-Vegetation Feedbacks
·
Threshold
Nonlinearities and Risk Assessment
·
Hydrological
Modelling and Predictive Uncertainty
·
Hydro-climatology:
Climate Change and Variability
·
Human
Impacts on Water Quantity and Quality
·
Biogeochemical
Cycling and Riverine Water Quality
Specific Research Topics
·
Exploration of heterogeneity of landscape properties at different
scales and typical process patterns at different scales
·
Investigation of space-time heterogeneity of climate inputs such
as rainfall at different spatial scales in different climatic regions
·
Role of
climate, soil vegetation interactions and feedbacks on water balance
variability and ecological optimality
·
Identify
typical space-time process patterns that dominate the hydrological dynamics in
specific regions or ecosystems and understand their ecological functions
·
Derivation
of closure relations to parameterize sub-grid and sub-time heterogeneity for
REW models
·
Include
simple model of the atmospheric boundary layer into REW theory to achieve a realistic modelling of turbulent fluxes,
energy balance and therefore ET
·
A
theoretical framework for scaling of REW of closure relations in space and time
based on multi-scale characterisation of space-time heterogeneities
·
A theoretical
framework for parameter estimation and predictive uncertainty through links to
space-time heterogeneity of climate and landscape properties
·
Develop a measurement theory for testing the REW closure relations
and assessment of REW scale state variables in the field through virtual models
in virtual and actual catchments
·
Links
between runoff processes and sediment transport processes in large river basins
and investigation of process controls on sediment delivery ratio
·
Hydro-ecology:
modelling of stream water quality by extension of streamflow
models
Supervision
of Student Research
Ph.D Students
Micah
Bell (Univ. of Newcastle) Hydro-climatological
Variability and Change on Water Resources in
(in progress, with Dr S Franks) Sydney Water Supply catchments
Jos Samuel Effect
of Hydro-climatological Variability and Change on Flood
(in progress, with Dr S Franks)) Frequency and Links to Water Balance Regime
Dyah Indriana Kusumastuti Field Investigations, Diagnostic Analyses and Modelling of Lake Warden
(in progress, with Dr D. Reynolds) Catchments, Esperance, Western Australia
Stanislav Schymanski Modelling of transpiration by natural vegetation through
maximisation of
(in progress, with Dr M. Roderick) net CO2 assimilation: Exploration of Ecological Optimality
Hypotheses
Haksu Lee Development
and Reliability Analysis of a Physically Based Hydrological
(in progress, with Dr E. Zehe) Model Considering the Effects of
Sub-Grid Heterogeneity
Gavan
McGrath Role
of Preferred Pathways in Pesticide Contamination Risk Analysis of
(in progress, with Dr C. Hinz) Streamflows
in Marbellup Brook Catchment, Albany, Western
Australia
Dr Carlos Ocampo,
2004 Hydrological and
Biogeochemical Controls on Catchment Nutrient