Peter Molnar: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021

Award: The Golden Owl
Name Prof. Dr. Peter Molnar
Address
Institut für Umweltingenieurwiss.
ETH Zürich, HIF D 20.1
Laura-Hezner-Weg 7
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 29 58
E-mailpeter.molnar@ifu.baug.ethz.ch
DepartmentCivil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
RelationshipAdjunct Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
102-0287-00LRiver Basin Erosion Information 3 credits2GP. Molnar
AbstractThe course presents a view of the catchment processes of sediment production and transport that shape the landscape. Focus is on sediment fluxes from sources on hillslopes to the river network. Students learn about how a fluvial system functions, how to identify sediment sources and sinks, how to make predictions with numerical models, develop sediment budgets, and quantify geomorphic change.
ObjectiveThe course has two fundamental aims: (1) The first aim is to provide environmental engineers with the physical process basis needed to understand fluvial system change, using the right language and terminology to describe landforms. We will cover the main geomorphic concepts of landscape change, e.g. thresholds, equilibrium, criticality, to describe change. Students will learn about the importance of the concepts of connectivity and timescales of change. (2) The second aim is to provide quantitative skills in making simple and more complex predictions of change and the data and models required. We will learn about typical landscape evolution models, and about hillslope erosion model concepts like RUSLE. We will learn how to identify sediment sources and sinks, and develop simple sediment budgets with the right data needed for this purpose. Finally we will learn about methods to describe the topology of river networks as conduits of sediment through the fluvial system.
ContentThe course consists of four sections: (1) Introduction to fluvial forms and processes and geomorphic concepts of landscape change, including climatic and human activities acting on the system. Concepts like thresholds, equilibrium, self-organised criticality, etc. are presented. (2) Landscape evolution modelling as a tool for describing the shape of the land surface. Soil formation and sediment production at long timescales. (3) The processes of sediment production, upland sheet-rill-gully erosion, basin sediment yield, rainfall-triggered landsliding, sediment budgets, and the modelling of the individual processes involved. Here we combine model concepts with field observations and look at many examples. (4) Processes in the river, floodplain and riparian zone, including river network topology, channel geometry, aquatic habitat, role of riparian vegetation, including basics of fluvial system management. The main focus of the course is on the hydrology-sediment connections at the field and catchment scale.
Lecture notesThere is no script.
LiteratureThe course materials consist of a series of 13 lecture presentations and notes to each lecture. The lectures were developed from textbooks, professional papers, and ongoing research activities of the instructor. All material is on the course webpage.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: Basic Hydrology and Watershed Modelling (or contact instructor).
102-0468-10LWatershed Modelling6 credits4GP. Molnar
AbstractWatershed Modelling is a practical course on numerical water balance models for a range of catchment-scale water resource applications. The course covers GIS use in watershed analysis, models types from conceptual to physically-based, parameter calibration and model validation, and analysis of uncertainty. The course combines theory (lectures) with a series of practical tasks (exercises).
ObjectiveThe main aim of the course is to provide practical training with watershed models for environmental engineers. The course is built on thematic lectures (2 hrs a week) and practical exercises (2 hrs a week). Theory and concepts in the lectures are underpinned by many examples from scientific studies. A comprehensive exercise block builds on the lectures with a series of 4 practical tasks to be conducted during the semester in group work. Exercise hours during the week focus on explanation of the tasks. The course is evaluated 50% by performance in the graded exercises and 50% by a semester-end oral examination (30 mins) on watershed modelling concepts.
ContentThe first part (A) of the course is on watershed properties analysed from DEMs, and on global sources of hydrological data for modelling applications. Here students learn about GIS applications (ArcGIS, Q-GIS) in hydrology - flow direction routines, catchment morphometry, extracting river networks, and defining hydrological response units. In the second part (B) of the course on conceptual watershed models students build their own simple bucket model (Matlab, Python), they learn about performance measures in modelling, how to calibrate the parameters and how to validate models, about methods to simulate stochastic climate to drive models, uncertainty analysis. The third part (C) of the course is focussed on physically-based model components. Here students learn about components for soil water fluxes and evapotranspiration, they practice with a fully-distributed physically-based model Topkapi-ETH, and learn about other similar models at larger scales. They apply Topkapi-ETH to an alpine catchment and study simulated discharge, snow, soil moisture and evapotranspiration spatial patterns.
Lecture notesThere is no textbook. Learning materials consist of (a) video-recording of lectures; (b) lecture presentations; and (c) exercise task documents that allow independent work.
LiteratureLiterature consist of collections from standard hydrological textbooks and research papers, collected by the instructors on the course moodle page.
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic Hydrology in Bachelor Studies (engineering, environmental sciences, earth sciences). Basic knowledge of Matlab (Python), ArcGIS (Q-GIS).
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingassessed
Media and Digital Technologiesassessed
Problem-solvingfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkassessed
Personal CompetenciesCritical Thinkingassessed
Integrity and Work Ethicsassessed
Self-awareness and Self-reflection fostered
Self-direction and Self-management fostered
102-0515-01LEnvironmental Engineering Seminars Information Restricted registration - show details 3 credits3SE. Secchi, P. Burlando, I. Hajnsek, M. Maurer, P. Molnar, E. Morgenroth, S. Pfister, S. Sinclair, R. Stocker, J. Wang
AbstractThe course is organized in the form of seminars held by the students. Topics selected from the core disciplines of the curriculum (water resources, urban water engineering, material fluxes, waste technology, air polution, earth observation) are discussed in the class on the basis of scientific papers that are illustrated and critically reviewed by the students.
ObjectiveLearn about recent research results in environmental engineering and analyse practical applications in environmental engineering.