Mountain catchments are frequently influenced by snow, which affects the seasonality of runoff. Additionally, higher elevations are vital for catchment storage and play an essential role in stabilising streamflow at lower elevations, particularly during low-flow periods, as well as buffering of meteorological extremes.
Detailed information about the topic
Supervisor
Assoc. prof. Michal JenĂÄŤek, Ph.D. (michal.jenicek@natur.cuni.cz)
Motivation
Mountain catchments are frequently influenced by snow, which affects the seasonality of runoff. Additionally, higher elevations are vital for catchment storage and play an essential role in stabilising streamflow at lower elevations, particularly during low-flow periods, as well as buffering of meteorological extremes. Nevertheless, snow storage has been decreasing across many regions over recent decades, and the timing of spring snowmelt has shifted, occurring earlier in the year. This indicates that snow is responding to the increasing air temperatures associated with climate change. Decreasing snowpack and more frequent winter snowmelt periods lead to changes in groundwater recharge, primarily driven by snowmelt rates. These changes control the partitioning between evaporation and runoff, as well as influencing water transit times. However, the resulting runoff response may be significantly modulated by catchment characteristics such as soil type, vegetation and topography.
Significance of the research and main research questions
With an increase in snowmelt events during winter (including rain-on-snow), more water contributes to the fast-flow component of runoff than to baseflow. If this is the case, does it mean that the winter water cycle is accelerating? Conversely, what proportion of winter-originating water contributes to baseflow and influences runoff during the warmer months, and how is this proportion affected by climate variability and different catchment characteristics? Previous studies have also indicated that runoff may respond not only to the previous winter’s snowpack, but also to snow from preceding years. This highlights the importance of multi-year runoff responses and catchment storage in mountainous areas. These questions, which address the different timescales of runoff response, are important for setting the baseline of the PhD project.
Main objectives
The above baseline questions define the two main objectives of the PhD project:
1) To investigate how changes in snow storage and subsequent snowmelt water release affect the distribution of water in the various components of the water cycle in the critical zone;
2) To relate the investigated interactions to climate variability and catchment attributes.
Research contribution and main methodological approaches
As streamflow generation may be affected by snow loss, the project aims to clarify how rain and snowmelt are distributed between soil storage, groundwater recharge, evapotranspiration and runoff. This knowledge is essential for the management of future water resources.
The project will combine field investigations of snowmelt runoff mechanisms with hydrological models to scale this information up to the level of the entire catchment. Data, including water stable isotopes from various sources, water temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), runoff, and meteorological data, will be collected and measured through fieldwork in the Vydra research catchment in Czechia. These data will then be used to develop and calibrate a hydrological model that simulates the distribution of water among the various components.
Additional information
We offer a fully funded PhD position with a start from October 1, 2026.
The candidate will be a member of the Hydrology Research Group at the Department of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Charles University, Prague. We are an active and diverse research group offering an interdisciplinary and international working environment. The project will also be carried out in close cooperation with the Institute of Hydrology, Czech Academy of Sciences.
Binding information about the topic in the University Study System (SIS)
Important information
To complete the application through the university study system (SIS), you need the consent of your supervisor. To obtain this consent, you must complete the following form by March 31, 2026, in which you submit your CV and motivation letter.
The form requires you to log in to your Google account. If you do not have one, please contact your supervisor, Michal JenĂÄŤek, at michal.jenicek@natur.cuni.cz.
All applications will be carefully reviewed until the end of March. Candidates who best meet the criteria will be invited for an interview in early April. Following a successful interview, selected candidates will be invited to submit a formal PhD application through the university study system (SIS).
