Objective To improve hydrological modelling approaches, through identifying model weaknesses in reproducing actual internal catchment processes as well as investigating parameter variability, and to progress in understanding hydrological processes, through improved field observation and issues arising from modelling queries and outputs. The long-term objective is to provide reliable tools for assessing the hydrological consequences of environmental change and defining the land and watershed management strategies necessary to preserve water quantity and quality.A physically-based hydrological model (SHETRAN) and a parsimonious model (TOPMODEL) will be validated and improved using data from small experimental catchments, including work to ensure that the internal dynamics and processes of the catchments are properly represented. Submodels for precipitation interception in forests and for snow melting will be specially developed. A new generation of field techniques, including TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry), GPR (Ground Probing Radar) and GPS (Global Positioning System), are to be tested and used together with other field experiments to obtain data for internal validation of subsurface hydrology in small research catchments. The methodology for hydrological use of GPR at the hillslope and small catchment scales (soil water content, soil water reserve and water table delineation) will be developed through validation in a range of field conditions. Joint field campaigns are to be performed in the Vallcebre catchments (Southeast Pyrenees), an area with strong spatial and temporal heterogeneities in hydrological characteristics and process operation. The purpose of these campaigns is not only to gather field data, but also to create the best conditions for exchanging experience between researchers concerned with modelling and those concentrating on field work. Identifying model deficiencies and guiding field observations from model outputs is a primary objective of these campaigns. Other field campaigns, at a range of experimental sites in Spain, the UK and Switzerland will be performed for specific purposes (investigating the hydrological consequences of land use change, erosion processes, flow generation and partitioning, snow melting). Data from Experimental Catchments in Germany will be used to test models in other environmental conditions. The issue of scale in hydrological modelling will be addressed as part of the project. The effects of increasing DTM (Digital Terrain Model) resolution, compiled with detailed information collected using GPS, will be investigated within the TOPMODEL framework. Algorithms will be developed for the upscaling of model parameters in SHETRAN, and a new regional-scale model TOPKAPI, will be developed and tested, thereby allowing the application of models calibrated and validated in small basins to wider areas. Finally, the performance of the more sophisticated models used in the project (SHETRAN, TOPMODEL, TOPKAPI) will be compared with that of two commonly used water management models (SACRAMENTO and BROOK). Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradarnatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologydrainage basinsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementwater management Programme(s) FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 01010401 - European water resources Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Address S/n,lluis solt sabaris s/n 08028 Barcelona Spain See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ADAS CONSULTING LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Woodthone, werg's road WV6 8TQ Wolverhampton See on map CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address S/n,avda. montanana 177 50080 Zaragoza See on map Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Switzerland EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1015 Lausanne See on map Escuola Superior d'Agricultura de Barcelona Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address 187,compte d'urgell 08036 Barcelona See on map Technische Universität Braunschweig Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 19c,langer kamp 38106 Braunschweig See on map UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Cassie building, claremont road NE1 7RU Newcastle upon tyne See on map Universitat de Barcelona Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address Sn,zona universitaria de pedralbes 08071 Barcelona See on map