Organisation
University of Turku
Description
Low and high extremes in river flows are driven by climate and land use changes of the boreal and subarctic river systems in Finland as they are linked to changes in precipitation and snow cover and its melting processes. Climate change induced warmer wintertime weather will diminish snow cover in drainage basins and ice cover in river channels. Further, ice cover has an impact on the flow characteristics of the river channel. Therefore, it is crucial to measure the differences between current open and ice-covered channel flow conditions and to create scenarios of future ice-cover dynamics and their impact on flow characteristics and river environments (incl. flora and fauna). Further, as the low and high extremes in river flows have changed through time and will change in the future due to climate change, it is crucial to analyze these annual and decadal alterations to deepen the understanding of the functions of Finnish river systems
PhD project description
We are seeking a talented doctoral researcher with good knowledge of fluvial studies including hydroinformatics, fluvial morphology, and field surveying. The PhD project aims to recognize annual and decadal changes in flow characteristics and ice cover dynamics within Finnish river systems under varying discharges caused by climate and land use change. This PhD project utilizes national discharge/flow time series, site-specific continuous ADV-flow profiles, and geospatial methods to assess changes in flow characteristics, ice covers, and their relation to river systems. The doctoral researcher will collect field data on boreal-subarctic rivers, utilize national flow time series by applying state-of-the-art in-situ measurement techniques, sonar mapping, statistics, and computational models, and use those to analyze Finnish river systems and their annual and decadal flow dynamics. This research work is part of research theme 1 in the DIWA Flagship. UTU provides state-of-the-art field equipment and unique sensors for river flow analyses. PhD researcher will be part well-established and internationally recognised research group: Fluvial and Coastal Research Group and DIWA Flagship.
Specific requirements
The position requires an active approach, diligence and cooperation skills, willingness to work as a part of a team and a passion to learn new. We also expect an excellent master’s degree in, for example, physical geography, water engineering, hydrology, or related fields. The candidate should also have the following skills: Advanced techniques including multibeam sonar, ADV/ADCP measurements, data modelling, computational models and statistics.
Secondment
SYKE
Dept./Faculty to which the thesis belongs
Department of Geography and Geology/ Faculty of Science
Principal supervisor
Prof. Petteri Alho
2nd supervisor
Adjunct prof. Ville Kankare
3rd supervisor
Adjunct prof. Elina Kasvi
Secondment host
TBA
