James W. Kirchner

portrait Prof. James W. Kirchner

Dept. Umweltsystemwissenschaften (D-USYS)
ETH Zürich
CHN F 50.3
Universitätstrasse 16
CH-8092 Zürich
Switzerland


Phone: +41 (0) 44 632 80 18
Phone2: +41 (0) 44 633 60 43
Fax: +41 (0) 44 739 25 75
E-mail: james.kirchner(at)env.ethz.ch
URL Institution: www.usys.ethz.ch/
Personal URL: link


Key Publications of James W. Kirchner (up to ten) :
Kirchner, J.W. and C. Neal, Universal fractal scaling in stream chemistry and its implications for solute transport and water quality trend detection, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110 (30), 12213-12218, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1304328110, 2013.

Kirchner, J.W., C.M. Austin, A. Myers, and D.C. Whyte, Quantifying remediation effectiveness under variable external forcing using contaminant rating curves, Environmental Science and Technology, 45, 7874-7881, doi: 10.1021/es2014874, 2011.

Kirchner, J.W., Catchments as simple dynamical systems: catchment characterization, rainfall-runoff modeling, and doing hydrology backward, Water Resources Research, 45, W02429, doi:10.1029/2008WR006912, 2009.

Perron, J.T., J.W. Kirchner, and W.E. Dietrich, Formation of evenly spaced ridges and valleys, Nature, 460, 502-505, doi:10.1038/nature08174, 2009.

Kirchner, J.W., X.H. Feng and C. Neal, Fractal stream chemistry and its implications for contaminant transport in catchments, Nature, 403, 524-527, 2000.



Expertise of James W. Kirchner:
Expertise CategorySpecific Expertise
Expert TypeScientific / Fundamental Research
Research Interface / Management
ScopeProcess Studies
Causes of Change
Impact of Change
Adaptation Measures to Change
Mitigation of Change
Topic HydrosphereFresh Water Systems / Rivers / Lakes
Precipitation / Runoff
Water Pollution / Waste Water
Topic CryosphereSnow Cover
Topic PedosphereSoil Degradation / Erosion / Desertification
Topic LithosphereMorphodynamics
Topic Integrated SystemsHydrogeochemical Cycle
Spatial ZonesMountain / Highland
Lowland
Statistical FocusExtreme Events
Mean Change / Trends
Variability
Mountain Research InitiativeLong-term monitoring and analysis of indicators of environmental change in mount
Integrated model-based studies of environmental change in diff. mountain regions
Process studies along altitudinal gradients and in associated headwater basins
Sustainable land use and natural resources management

Specialties of James W. Kirchner:
Catchment hydrology and geochemistry
Geomorphology
Weathering and erosion
Snow hydrology
Analysis of environmental data

Effects of climate change on catchment-scale hydrological processes, including water use by vegetation
In our research we use field measurements, laboratory work, statistical analyses, and simple mathematical models to explore processes that control evapotranspiration and streamflow in catchments. This work is relevant to understanding the twin hydrological hazards of floods and droughts, and also for understanding how ecosystems will respond to changes in precipitation and temperature.


Last update: 9/2/23
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the personal data for James W. Kirchner

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