Prof. Dr. James Kirchner
Fonction
senior scientist / chercheur
Hydrologie de montagne et mouvements de masse
Contact
Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Site
Birmensdorf Bi LG E 14
Research interests
Hydrology, geochemistry, geomorphology, evolutionary ecology, paleobiology.
James Kirchner's s recent research has focused on developing simple, tractable mathematical models and time-series analysis methods for understanding the behaviour of complex environmental systems.
Professor at ETH Zürich: Physics of Environmental Systems
Physics of Environmental Systems in the Department of Environmental Sciences of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland, explores complex environmental systems seeking to answer questions such as: How does rainfall become runoff? How is the chemistry of natural waters shaped by subsurface transport and mixing, by chemical reactions with soils and rocks, and by biological processes? What processes control rates and patterns of physical erosion and chemical weathering? And how do they, in turn, regulate the topographic evolution of mountains and valleys, as well as the physical and chemical environment in which we live? Group members investigate connections between terrestrial and aquatic environments, and linkages between physical, chemical, and biological processes. The research work typically combines field observations, mathematical models, and novel analyses of environmental data. >> more
Teaching Activities
James Kirchner has taught courses in water resources, catchment hydrology, geochemistry, geomorphology, and analysis of environmental data. He currently supervises several PhD students conducting their dissertation research at WSL.
Former director of WSL
Kirchner served as Director of WSL from 2007 to 2012. He was attracted by the wide range of research opportunities, by WSL's commitment to translating science into practice, and by the prospect of living and working close to the Swiss Alps. Since stepping down as Director, he has remained involved in WSL’s scientific life as Senior Scientist in the research unit Mountain Hydrology and Mass Movements.
Formerly at Berkeley
James Kirchner received his PhD from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1990. Following postdoctoral work at Caltech, he returned to Berkeley as an assistant professor. He was promoted to full professor in 2002, was named the Goldman Distinguished Professor for the Physical Sciences in 2003, and also served as the director of Berkeley‘s Central Sierra Field Research Stations. In 2008 he was named as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Publications WSL
Scientific publication article peer reviewed
Theodoratos, N.; Kirchner, J.W., 2021: Graphically interpreting how incision thresholds influence topographic and scaling properties of modeled landscapes. Earth Surface Dynamics, 9, 6: 1545-1561. doi: 10.5194/esurf-9-1545-2021
Stähli, M.; Seibert, J.; Kirchner, J.W.; Von Freyberg, J.; Van Meerveld, I., 2021: Hydrological trends and the evolution of catchment research in the Alptal valley, central Switzerland. Hydrological Processes, 35, 4: e14113 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1002/hyp.14113
Seiler, R.; Hajdas, I.; Saurer, M.; Houlié, N.; D'Arrigo, R.; Kirchner, J.W.; Cherubini, P., 2021: Tree‐ring stable isotopes and radiocarbon reveal pre‐ and post‐eruption effects of volcanic processes on trees on Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy). Ecohydrology, 14, 8: e2340 (15 pp.). doi: 10.1002/eco.2340
Floriancic, M.G.; Berghuijs, W.R.; Molnar, P.; Kirchner, J.W., 2021: Seasonality and drivers of low flows across Europe and the United States. Water Resources Research, 57, 9: e2019WR026928 (17 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2019WR026928
Seybold, H.; Berghuijs, W.R.; Prancevic, J.P.; Kirchner, J.W., 2021: Global dominance of tectonics over climate in shaping river longitudinal profiles. Nature Geoscience, 14: 503-507. doi: 10.1038/s41561-021-00720-5
Jasechko, S.; Seybold, H.; Perrone, D.; Fan, Y.; Kirchner, J.W., 2021: Widespread potential loss of streamflow into underlying aquifers across the USA. Nature, 591, 7850: 391-395. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03311-x
Rouholahnejad Freund, E.; Fan, Y.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Global assessment of how averaging over spatial heterogeneity in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration affects modeled evapotranspiration rates. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 4: 1927-1938. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-1927-2020
Prancevic, J.P.; Lamb, M.P.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickli, C.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Decreasing landslide erosion on steeper slopes in soil-mantled landscapes. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, 10: e2020GL087505 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2020GL087505
Buitink, J.; Melsen, L.A.; Kirchner, J.W.; Teuling, A.J., 2020: A distributed simple dynamical systems approach (dS2 v1.0) for computationally efficient hydrological modelling at high spatio-temporal resolution. Geoscientific Model Development, 13, 12: 6093-6110. doi: 10.5194/gmd-13-6093-2020
Von Freyberg, J.; L. A. Knapp, J.; Rücker, A.; W. Kirchner, J., 2020: Technical note: evaluation of a low-cost evaporation protection method for portable water samplers. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 12: 5821-5834. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-5821-2020
Yanai, R.D.; Wayson, C.; Lee, D.; Espejo, A.B.; Campbell, J.L.; Green, M.B.; Zukswert, J.M.; Yoffe, S.B.; Aukema, J.E.; Lister, A.J.; Kirchner, J.W.; Gamarra, J.G.P., 2020: Improving uncertainty in forest carbon accounting for REDD+ mitigation efforts. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 12: 124002 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abb96f
Kirchner, J.W.; Knapp, J.L.A., 2020: Technical note: calculation scripts for ensemble hydrograph separation. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 11: 5539-5558. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-5539-2020
Kirchner, J.W.; Godsey, S.E.; Solomon, M.; Osterhuber, R.; McConnell, J.R.; Penna, D., 2020: The pulse of a montane ecosystem: coupling between daily cycles in solar flux, snowmelt, transpiration, groundwater, and streamflow at Sagehen Creek and Independence Creek, Sierra Nevada, USA. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 11: 5095-5123. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-5095-2020
Floriancic, M.G.; Berghuijs, W.R.; Jonas, T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Molnar, P., 2020: Effects of climate anomalies on warm-season low flows in Switzerland. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 11: 5423-5438. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-5423-2020
Rouholahnejad Freund, E.; Zappa, M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Averaging over spatiotemporal heterogeneity substantially biases evapotranspiration rates in a mechanistic large-scale land evaporation model. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 10: 5015-5025. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-5015-2020
Richardson, P.W.; Perron, J.T.; Miller, S.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Unraveling the mysteries of asymmetric topography at Gabilan Mesa, California. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 125, 7: e2019JF005378 (24 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2019JF005378
Richardson, P.W.; Perron, J.T.; Miller, S.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Modeling the formation of topographic asymmetry by aspect-dependent erosional processes and lateral channel migration. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 125, 7: e2019JF005377 (24 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2019JF005377
Knapp, J.L.A.; Von Freyberg, J.; Studer, B.; Kiewiet, L.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Concentration-discharge relationships vary among hydrological events, reflecting differences in event characteristics. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 5: 2561-2576. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-2561-2020
Theodoratos, N.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Dimensional analysis of a landscape evolution model with incision threshold. Earth Surface Dynamics, 8, 2: 505-526. doi: 10.5194/esurf-8-505-2020
Cooper, A.E.; Kirchner, J.W.; Wolf, S.; Lombardozzi, D.L.; Sullivan, B.W.; Tyler, S.W.; Harpold, A.A., 2020: Snowmelt causes different limitations on transpiration in a Sierra Nevada conifer forest. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 291: 108089 (14 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108089
Jasechko, S.; Perrone, D.; Seybold, H.; Fan, Y.; Kirchner, J.W., 2020: Groundwater level observations in 250,000 coastal US wells reveal scope of potential seawater intrusion. Nature Communications, 11, 1: 3229 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17038-2
Gallart, F.; Von Freyberg, J.; Valiente, M.; Kirchner, J.W.; Llorens, P.; Latron, J., 2020: Technical note: an improved discharge sensitivity metric for young water fractions. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 3: 1101-1107. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-1101-2020
Kirchner, J.W.; Allen, S.T., 2020: Seasonal partitioning of precipitation between streamflow and evapotranspiration, inferred from end-member splitting analysis. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 24, 1: 17-39. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-17-2020
Van Meerveld, H.J.I.; Kirchner, J.W.; Vis, M.J.P.; Assendelft, R.S.; Seibert, J., 2019: Expansion and contraction of the flowing stream network alter hillslope flowpath lengths and the shape of the travel time distribution. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 11: 4825-4834. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-4825-2019
Wang, L.; Von Freyberg, J.; Van Meerveld, I.; Seibert, J.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: What is the best time to take stream isotope samples for event-based model calibration?. Journal of Hydrology, 577: 123950 (14 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.123950
Rücker, A.; Boss, S.; Kirchner, J.W.; Von Freyberg, J., 2019: Monitoring snowpack outflow volumes and their isotopic composition to better understand streamflow generation during rain-on-snow events. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 7: 2983-3005. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-2983-2019
Berghuijs, W.R.; Allen, S.T.; Harrigan, S.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Growing spatial scales of synchronous river flooding in Europe. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 3: 1423-1428. doi: 10.1029/2018GL081883
Knapp, J.L.A.; Neal, C.; Schlumpf, A.; Neal, M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: New water fractions and transit time distributions at Plynlimon, Wales, estimated from stable water isotopes in precipitation and streamflow. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 10: 4367-4388. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-4367-2019
Sprenger, M.; Stumpp, C.; Weiler, M.; Aeschbach, W.; Allen, S.T.; Benettin, P.; Dubbert, M.; Hartmann, A.; Hrachowitz, M.; Kirchner, J.W.; McDonnell, J.J.; Orlowski, N.; Penna, D.; Pfahl, S.; Rinderer, M.; Rodriguez, N.; Schmidt, M.; Werner, C., 2019: The demographics of water: a review of water ages in the critical zone. Reviews of Geophysics, 57, 3: 800-834. doi: 10.1029/2018RG000633
Zhu, F.; Emile-Geay, J.; McKay, N.P.; Hakim, G.J.; Khider, D.; Ault, T.R.; Steig, E.J.; Dee, S.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Climate models can correctly simulate the continuum of global-average temperature variability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America PNAS, 116, 18: 8728-8733. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1809959116
Weil, A.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Diversity on the rebound. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 3, 6: 873-874. doi: 10.1038/s41559-019-0883-5
Berghuijs, W.R.; Harrigan, S.; Molnar, P.; Slater, L.J.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: The relative importance of different flood‐generating mechanisms across Europe. Water Resources Research, 55, 6: 4582-4593. doi: 10.1029/2019WR024841
Floriancic, M.G.; Fischer, B.M.C.; Molnar, P.; Kirchner, J.W.; Meerveld, I.H.J., 2019: Spatial variability in specific discharge and streamwater chemistry during low flows: results from snapshot sampling campaigns in eleven Swiss catchments. Hydrological Processes, 33, 22: 2847-2866. doi: 10.1002/hyp.13532
Allen, S.T.; Jasechko, S.; Berghuijs, W.R.; Welker, J.M.; Goldsmith, G.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Global sinusoidal seasonality in precipitation isotopes. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 8: 3423-3436. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-3423-2019
Godsey, S.E.; Hartmann, J.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Catchment chemostasis revisited: water quality responds differently to variations in weather and climate. Hydrological Processes, 33, 24: 3056-3069. doi: 10.1002/hyp.13554
Allen, S.T.; Von Freyberg, J.; Weiler, M.; Goldsmith, G.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: The seasonal origins of streamwater in Switzerland. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 17-18: 10425-10434. doi: 10.1029/2019GL084552
Blöschl, G.; Bierkens, M.F.P.; Chambel, A.; Cudennec, C.; Destouni, G.; Fiori, A.; Kirchner, J.W.; McDonnell, J.J.; Savenije, H.H.G.; Sivapalan, M.; Von Freyberg, J.; Zhang, Y., 2019: Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH) – a community perspective. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 64, 10: 1141-1158. doi: 10.1080/02626667.2019.1620507
Allen, S.T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Braun, S.; Siegwolf, R.T.W.; Goldsmith, G.R., 2019: Seasonal origins of soil water used by trees. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 2: 1199-1210. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-1199-2019
Prancevic, J.P.; Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Topographic controls on the extension and retraction of flowing streams. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 4: 2084-2092. doi: 10.1029/2018GL081799
Kirchner, J.W., 2019: Quantifying new water fractions and transit time distributions using ensemble hydrograph separation: theory and benchmark tests. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 23, 1: 303-349. doi: 10.5194/hess-23-303-2019
Goldsmith, G.R.; Allen, S.T.; Braun, S.; Engbersen, N.; González-Quijano, C.R.; Kirchner, J.W.; Siegwolf, R.T.W., 2018: Spatial variation in throughfall, soil, and plant water isotopes in a temperate forest. Ecohydrology, 12, 2: e2059 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1002/eco.2059
Zhang, Q.; Harman, C.J.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Evaluation of statistical methods for quantifying fractal scaling in water-quality time series with irregular sampling. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22, 2: 1175-1192. doi: 10.5194/hess-22-1175-2018
Allen, S.T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Goldsmith, G.R., 2018: Predicting spatial patterns in precipitation isotope (δ2H and δ18O) seasonality using sinusoidal isoscapes. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 10: 4859-4868. doi: 10.1029/2018GL077458
Floriancic, M.G.; Van Meerveld, I.; Smoorenburg, M.; Margreth, M.; Naef, F.; Kirchner, J.W.; Molnar, P., 2018: Spatio-temporal variability in contributions to low flows in the high Alpine Poschiavino catchment. Hydrological Processes, 32, 26: 3938-3953. doi: 10.1002/hyp.13302
Remondi, F.; Kirchner, J.W.; Burlando, P.; Fatichi, S., 2018: Water flux tracking with a distributed hydrological model to quantify controls on the spatiotemporal variability of transit time distributions. Water Resources Research, 54, 4: 3081-3099. doi: 10.1002/2017WR021689
Von Freyberg, J.; Studer, B.; Rinderer, M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Studying catchment storm response using event- and pre-event-water volumes as fractions of precipitation rather than discharge. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22, 11: 5847-5865. doi: 10.5194/hess-22-5847-2018
Penna, D.; Hopp, L.; Scandellari, F.; Allen, S.T.; Benettin, P.; Beyer, M.; Geris, J.; Klaus, J.; Marshall, J.D.; Schwendenmann, L.; Volkmann, T.H.M.; Von Freyberg, J.; Amin, A.; Ceperley, N.; Engel, M.; Frentress, J.; Giambastiani, Y.; McDonnell, J.J.; Zuecco, G.; ... Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Ideas and perspectives: tracing terrestrial ecosystem water fluxes using hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes - challenges and opportunities from an interdisciplinary perspective. Biogeosciences, 15, 21: 6399-6415. doi: 10.5194/bg-15-6399-2018
Theodoratos, N.; Seybold, H.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Scaling and similarity of a stream-power incision and linear diffusion landscape evolution model. Earth Surface Dynamics, 6, 3: 779-808. doi: 10.5194/esurf-6-779-2018
Von Freyberg, J.; Allen, S.T.; Seeger, S.; Weiler, M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Sensitivity of young water fractions to hydro-climatic forcing and landscape properties across 22 Swiss catchments. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22, 7: 3841-3861. doi: 10.5194/hess-22-3841-2018
Seybold, H.J.; Kite, E.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Branching geometry of valley networks on Mars and Earth and its implications for early Martian climate. Science Advances, 4, 6: eaar6692 (5 pp.). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aar6692
Benettin, P.; Volkmann, T.H.M.; Von Freyberg, J.; Frentress, J.; Penna, D.; Dawson, T.E.; Kirchner, J.W., 2018: Effects of climatic seasonality on the isotopic composition of evaporating soil waters. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22, 5: 2881-2890. doi: 10.5194/hess-22-2881-2018
Seiler, R.; Kirchner, J.W.; Krusic, P.J.; Tognetti, R.; Houlié, N.; Andronico, D.; Cullotta, S.; Egli, M.; D'Arrigo, R.; Cherubini, P., 2017: Insensitivity of tree-ring growth to temperature and precipitation sharpens the puzzle of enhanced pre-eruption NDVI on Mt. Etna (Italy). PLoS One, 12, 1: e0169297 (21 pp.). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169297
Haghighi, E.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Near-surface turbulence as a missing link in modeling evapotranspiration-soil moisture relationships. Water Resources Research, 53, 7: 5320-5344. doi: 10.1002/2016WR020111
Beer, Alexander.R.; Turowski, J.M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Spatial patterns of erosion in a bedrock gorge. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 122, 1: 191-214. doi: 10.1002/2016JF003850
Gottselig, N.; Amelung, W.; Kirchner, J.W.; Bol, R.; Eugster, W.; Granger, S.J.; Hernández-Crespo, C.; Herrmann, F.; Keizer, J.J.; Korkiakoski, M.; Laudon, H.; Lehner, I.; Löfgren, S.; Lohila, A.; Macleod, C.J.A.; Mölder, M.; Müller, C.; Nasta, P.; Nischwitz, V.; ... Klumpp, E., 2017: Elemental composition of natural nanoparticles and fine colloids in European forest stream waters and their role as phosphorus carriers. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 31, 10: 1592-1607. doi: 10.1002/2017GB005657
Vitasse, Y.; Klein, G.; Kirchner, J.W.; Rebetez, M., 2017: Intensity, frequency and spatial configuration of winter temperature inversions in the closed La Brevine valley, Switzerland. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 130, 3-4: 1073-1083. doi: 10.1007/s00704-016-1944-1
Von Boetticher, A.; Turowski, J.M.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickenmann, D.; Hürlimann, M.; Scheidl, C.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: DebrisInterMixing-2.3: a finite volume solver for three-dimensional debris-flow simulations with two calibration parameters – part 2: model validation with experiments. Geoscientific Model Development, 10, 11: 3963-3978. doi: 10.5194/gmd-10-3963-2017
Berghuijs, W.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: The relationship between contrasting ages of groundwater and streamflow. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 17: 8925-8935. doi: 10.1002/2017GL074962
Jasechko, S.; Perrone, D.; Befus, K.M.; Bayani Cardenas, M.B.; Ferguson, G.; Gleeson, T.; Luijendijk, E.; McDonnell, J.J.; Taylor, R.G.; Wada, Y.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Global aquifers dominated by fossil groundwaters but wells vulnerable to modern contamination. Nature Geoscience, 10, 6: 425-430. doi: 10.1038/NGEO2943
Von Freyberg, J.; Studer, B.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: A lab in the field: high-frequency analysis of water quality and stable isotopes in stream water and precipitation. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 21, 3: 1721-1739. doi: 10.5194/hess-21-1721-2017
Freund, E.R.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: A Budyko framework for estimating how spatial heterogeneity and lateral moisture redistribution affect average evapotranspiration rates as seen from the atmosphere. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 21, 1: 217-233. doi: 10.5194/hess-21-217-2017
Pfister, L.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Debates – hypothesis testing in hydrology: theory and practice. Water Resources Research, 53, 3: 1792-1798. doi: 10.1002/2016WR020116
Seybold, H.; Rothman, D.H.; Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Climate's watermark in the geometry of stream networks. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 5: 2272-2280. doi: 10.1002/2016GL072089
Blazina, T.; Läderach, A.; Jones, G.D.; Sodemann, H.; Wernli, H.; Kirchner, J.W.; Winkel, L.H.E., 2017: Marine primary productivity as a potential indirect source of selenium and other trace elements in atmospheric deposition. Environmental Science and Technology, 51, 1: 108-118. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03063
Rode, M.; Wade, A.J.; Cohen, M.J.; Hensley, R.T.; Bowes, M.J.; Kirchner, J.W.; Arhonditsis, G.B.; Jordan, P.; Kronvang, B.; Halliday, S.J.; Skeffington, R.A.; Rozemeijer, J.C.; Aubert, A.H.; Rinke, K.; Jomaa, S., 2016: Sensors in the stream: the high-frequency wave of the present. Environmental Science and Technology, 50, 19: 10297-10307. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02155
Jasechko, S.; Kirchner, J.W.; Welker, J.M.; McDonnell, J.J., 2016: Substantial proportion of global streamflow less than three months old. Nature Geoscience, 9: 126-130. doi: 10.1038/NGEO2636
Von Boetticher, A.; Turowski, J.M.; McArdell, B.W.; Rickenmann, D.; Kirchner, J.W., 2016: DebrisInterMixing-2.3: a finite volume solver for three-dimensional debris-flow simulations with two calibration parameters – part 1: model description. Geoscientific Model Development, 9, 9: 2909-2923. doi: 10.5194/gmd-9-2909-2016
Kirchner, J.W., 2016: Aggregation in environmental systems – part 2: catchment mean transit times and young water fractions under hydrologic nonstationarity. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 20, 1: 299-328. doi: 10.5194/hess-20-299-2016
Kirchner, J.W., 2016: Aggregation in environmental systems – part 1: seasonal tracer cycles quantify young water fractions, but not mean transit times, in spatially heterogeneous catchments. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 20, 1: 279-297. doi: 10.5194/hess-20-279-2016
Beer, A.R.; Kirchner, J.W.; Turowski, J.M., 2016: Graffiti for science – erosion painting reveals spatially variable erosivity of sediment-laden flows. Earth Surface Dynamics, 4, 4: 885-894. doi: 10.5194/esurf-4-885-2016
Schneider, J.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Schmid, B.; Kirchner, J.W., 2016: Bed load transport in a very steep mountain stream (Riedbach, Switzerland): measurement and prediction. Water Resources Research, 52, 12: 9522-9541. doi: 10.1002/2016WR019308
Heimann, F.U.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: sedFlow – a tool for simulating fractional bedload transport and longitudinal profile evolution in mountain streams. Earth Surface Dynamics, 3, 1: 15-34. doi: 10.5194/esurf-3-15-2015
Heimann, F.U.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Böckli, M.; Badoux, A.; Turowski, J.M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: Calculation of bedload transport in Swiss mountain rivers using the model sedFlow: proof of concept. Earth Surface Dynamics, 3, 1: 35-54. doi: 10.5194/esurf-3-35-2015
Benettin, P.; Kirchner, J.W.; Rinaldo, A.; Botter, G., 2015: Modeling chloride transport using travel time distributions at Plynlimon, Wales. Water Resources Research, 51, 5: 3259-3276. doi: 10.1002/2014WR016600
Schneider, J.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: Self-adjustment of stream bed roughness and flow velocity in a steep mountain channel. Water Resources Research, 51, 10: 7838-7859. doi: 10.1002/2015WR016934
Schneider, J.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Bunte, K.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: Applicability of bed load transport models for mixed-size sediments in steep streams considering macro-roughness. Water Resources Research, 51, 7: 5260-5283. doi: 10.1002/2014WR016417
Slater, L.J.; Singer, M.B.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: Hydrologic versus geomorphic drivers of trends in flood hazard. Geophysical Research Letters, 42, 2: 370-376. doi: 10.1002/2014GL062482
Kobierska, F.; Jonas, T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Bernasconi, S.M., 2015: Linking baseflow separation and groundwater storage dynamics in an alpine basin (Dammagletscher, Switzerland). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 19, 8: 3681-3693. doi: 10.5194/hess-19-3681-2015
Adamovic, M.; Braud, I.; Branger, F.; Kirchner, J.W., 2015: Assessing the simple dynamical systems approach in a Mediterranean context: application to the Ardèche catchment (France). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 19, 5: 2427-2449. doi: 10.5194/hess-19-2427-2015
Godsey, S.E.; Kirchner, J.W., 2014: Dynamic, discontinuous stream networks: hydrologically driven variations in active drainage density, flowing channels and stream order. Hydrological Processes, 28, 23: 5791-5803. doi: 10.1002/hyp.10310
Schneider, J.M.; Turowski, J.M.; Rickenmann, D.; Hegglin, R.; Arrigo, S.; Mao, L.; Kirchner, J.W., 2014: Scaling relationships between bed load volumes, transport distances, and stream power in steep mountain channels. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 119, 3: 533-549. doi: 10.1002/2013JF002874
Aubert, A.H.; Kirchner, J.W.; Gascuel-Odoux, C.; Faucheux, M.; Gruau, G.; Mérot, P., 2014: Fractal water quality fluctuations spanning the periodic table in an intensively farmed watershed. Environmental Science and Technology, 48, 2: 930-937. doi: 10.1021/es403723r
Magnusson, J.; Kobierska, F.; Huxol, S.; Hayashi, M.; Jonas, T.; Kirchner, J.W., 2014: Melt water driven stream and groundwater stage fluctuations on a glacier forefield (Dammagletscher, Switzerland). Hydrological Processes, 28, 3: 823-836. doi: 10.1002/hyp.9633
Kirchner, J.W.; Neal, C., 2013: Universal fractal scaling in stream chemistry and its implications for solute transport and water quality trend detection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America PNAS, 110, 30: 12213-12218. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1304328110
Neal, C.; Reynolds, B.; Kirchner, J.W.; Rowland, P.; Norris, D.; Sleep, D.; Lawlor, A.; Woods, C.; Thacker, S.; Guyatt, H.; Vincent, C.; Lehto, K.; Grant, S.; Williams, J.; Neal, M.; Wickham, H.; Harman, S.; Armstrong, L., 2013: High-frequency precipitation and stream water quality time series from Plynlimon, Wales: an openly accessible data resource spanning the periodic table. Hydrological Processes, 27, 17: 2531-2539. doi: 10.1002/hyp.9814
Nitsche, M.; Turowski, J.M.; Badoux, A.; Rickenmann, D.; Kohoutek, T.K.; Pauli, M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2013: Range imaging: a new method for high-resolution topographic measurements in small- and medium-scale field sites. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38, 8: 810-825. doi: 10.1002/esp.3322
Halliday, S.J.; Skeffington, R.A.; Wade, A.J.; Neal, C.; Reynolds, B.; Norris, D.; Kirchner, J.W., 2013: Upland streamwater nitrate dynamics across decadal to sub-daily timescales: a case study of Plynlimon, Wales. Biogeosciences, 10, 12: 8013-8038. doi: 10.5194/bg-10-8013-2013
Nitsche, M.; Rickenmann, D.; Kirchner, J.W.; Turowski, J.M.; Badoux, A., 2012: Macroroughness and variations in reach-averaged flow resistance in steep mountain streams. Water Resources Research, 48, 12: W12518 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2012WR012091
Krier, R.; Matgen, P.; Goergen, K.; Pfister, L.; Hoffmann, L.; Kirchner, J.W.; Uhlenbrook, S.; Savenije, H.H.G., 2012: Inferring catchment precipitation by doing hydrology backward: a test in 24 small and mesoscale catchments in Luxembourg. Water Resources Research, 48, 10: W10525 (15 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011WR010657
Neal, C.; Reynolds, B.; Rowland, P.; Norris, D.; Kirchner, J.W.; Neal, M.; Sleep, D.; Lawlor, A.; Woods, C.; Thacker, S.; Guyatt, H.; Vincent, C.; Hockenhull, K.; Wickham, H.; Harman, S.; Armstrong, L., 2012: High-frequency water quality time series in precipitation and streamflow: from fragmentary signals to scientific challenge. Science of the Total Environment, 434: 3-12. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.10.072
Ferrier, K.L.; Kirchner, J.W.; Finkel, R.C., 2012: Weak influences of climate and mineral supply rates on chemical erosion rates: measurements along two altitudinal transects in the Idaho Batholith. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 117: F02026 (21 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011JF002231
Yager, E.M.; Dietrich, W.E.; Kirchner, J.W.; McArdell, B.W., 2012: Prediction of sediment transport in step-pool channels. Water Resources Research, 48, 1: W01541 (20 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011WR010829
Yager, E.M.; Dietrich, W.E.; Kirchner, J.W.; McArdell, B.W., 2012: Patch dynamics and stability in steep, rough streams. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 117, 2: F02010 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011JF002253
Magnusson, J.; Jonas, T.; Kirchner, J.W., 2012: Temperature dynamics of a proglacial stream: identifying dominant energy balance components and inferring spatially integrated hydraulic geometry. Water Resources Research, 48, 6: W06510 (16 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011WR011378
Wirthner, S.; Schütz, M.; Page-Dumroese, D.S.; Busse, M.D.; Kirchner, J.W.; Risch, A.C., 2012: Do changes in soil properties after rooting by wild boars (Sus scrofa) affect understory vegetation in Swiss hardwood forests?. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 42, 3: 585-592. doi: 10.1139/X2012-013
Nitsche, M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Badoux, A.; Kirchner, J.W., 2011: Evaluation of bedload transport predictions using flow resistance equations to account for macro-roughness in steep mountain streams. Water Resources Research, 47: W08513 (21 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011WR010645
Neal, C.; Reynolds, B.; Norris, D.; Kirchner, J.W.; Neal, M.; Rowland, P.; Wickham, H.; Harman, S.; Armstrong, L.; Sleep, D.; Lawlor, A.; Woods, C.; Williams, B.; Fry, M.; Newton, G.; Wright, D., 2011: Three decades of water quality measurements from the Upper Severn experimental catchments at Plynlimon, Wales: an openly accessible data resource for research, modelling, environmental management and education. Hydrological Processes, 25, 24: 3818-3830. doi: 10.1002/hyp.8191
Ferrier, K.L.; Kirchner, J.W.; Finkel, R.C., 2011: Estimating millennial-scale rates of dust incorporation into eroding hillslope regolith using cosmogenic nuclides and immobile weathering tracers. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 116: F03022 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2011JF001991
Kirchner, J.W.; Austin, C.M.; Myers, A.; Whyte, D.C., 2011: Quantifying remediation effectiveness under variable external forcing using contaminant rating curves. Environmental Science and Technology, 45, 18: 7874-7881. doi: 10.1021/es2014874
Jessup, B.S.; Hahm, W.J.; Miller, S.N.; Kirchner, J.W.; Riebe, C.S., 2011: Landscape response to tipping points in granite weathering: the case of stepped topography in the Southern Sierra critical zone observatory. Applied Geochemistry, 26, S: S48-S50. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.026
Ferrier, K.L.; Kirchner, J.W.; Riebe, C.S.; Finkel, R.C., 2010: Mineral-specific chemical weathering rates over millennial timescales: measurements at Rio Icacos, Puerto Rico. Chemical Geology, 277, 1-2: 101-114. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2010.07.013
Teuling, A.J.; Lehner, I.; Kirchner, J.W.; Seneviratne, S.I., 2010: Catchments as simple dynamical systems: experience from a Swiss prealpine catchment. Water Resources Research, 46: W10502 (15 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2009WR008777
Lee, J.; Feng, X.; Faiia, A.; Posmentier, E.; Osterhuber, R.; Kirchner, J., 2010: Isotopic evolution of snowmelt: a new model incorporating mobile and immobile water. Water Resources Research, 46: W11512 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2009WR008306
Kirchner, J.W.; Tetzlaff, D.; Soulsby, C., 2010: Comparing chloride and water isotopes as hydrological tracers in two Scottish catchments. Hydrological Processes, 24, 12: 1631-1645. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7676
Godsey, S.E.; Aas, W.; Clair, T.A.; De Wit, H.A.; Fernandez, I.J.; Kahl, J.S.; Malcolm, I.A.; Neal, C.; Neal, M.; Nelson, S.J.; Norton, S.A.; Palucis, M.C.; Skjelkvåle, B.L.; Soulsby, C.; Tetzlaff, D.; Kirchner, J.W., 2010: Generality of fractal 1/f scaling in catchment tracer time series, and its implications for catchment travel time distributions. Hydrological Processes, 24, 12: 1660-1671. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7677
Lee, J.; Feng, X.; Faiia, A.M.; Posmentier, E.S.; Kirchner, J.W.; Osterhuber, R.; Taylor, S., 2010: Isotopic evolution of a seasonal snowcover and its melt by isotopic exchange between liquid water and ice. Chemical Geology, 270, 1-4: 126-134. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2009.11.011
Kirchner, J.W., 2009: Catchments as simple dynamical systems: catchment characterization, rainfall-runoff modeling, and doing hydrology backward. Water Resources Research, 45, W02429: 1-34. doi: 10.1029/2008WR006912
Perron, J.T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Dietrich, W.E., 2009: Formation of evenly spaced ridges and valleys. Nature, 460, 7254: 502-505. doi: 10.1038/nature08174
Godsey, S.E.; Kirchner, J.W.; Clow, D.W., 2009: Concentration-discharge relationships reflect chemostatic characteristics of US catchments. Hydrological Processes, 23, 13: 1844-1864. doi: 10.1002/hyp.7315
Nelson, P.A.; Venditti, J.G.; Dietrich, W.E.; Kirchner, J.W.; Ikeda, H.; Iseya, F.; Sklar, L.S., 2009: Response of bed surface patchiness to reductions in sediment supply. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 114: F02005 (18 pp.). doi: 10.1029/2008JF001144
Perron, J.T.; Kirchner, J.W.; Dietrich, W.E., 2008: Spectral signatures of characteristic spatial scales and nonfractal structure in landscapes. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 113, F4: 1-14. doi: 10.1029/2007JF000866
Perron, J.T.; Dietrich, W.E.; Kirchner, J.W., 2008: Controls on the spacing of first-order valleys. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 113, F4: 1-21. doi: 10.1029/2007JF000977
Ferrier, K.L.; Kirchner, J.W., 2008: Effects of physical erosion on chemical denudation rates: a numerical modeling study of soil-mantled hillslopes. Earth and Planetary Sciences Letters, 272, 3-4: 591-599. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.05.024
Roering, J.J.; Perron, J.T.; Kirchner, J.W., 2007: Functional relationships between denudation and hillslope form and relief. Earth and Planetary Sciences Letters, 264, 1-2: 245-258. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2007.09.035
Further scientific publications
Kirchner, J.W.; Berghuijs, W.R.; Allen, S.T.; Hrachowitz, M.; Hut, R.; Rizzo, D.M., 2020: Streamflow response to forest management. Nature, 578, 7794: E12-E15. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-1940-6
Kirchner, J.W., 2017: Science, politics, and rationality in a partisan era. Water Resources Research, 53, 5: 3545-3549. doi: 10.1002/2017WR020882
Kirchner, J.W.; Ferrier, K.L., 2013: Earth Science: mainly in the plain. Nature, 495, 7441: 318-319. doi: 10.1038/495318a
Nitsche, M.; Rickenmann, D.; Badoux, A.; Turowski, J.M.; Kirchner, J.W., 2013: Berechnung des Geschiebetransportes in Wildbächen und Gebirgsflüssen unter Berücksichtigung von Makrorauigkeit. In: Spreafico, M.; Viviroli, D. (eds), 2013: Ausgewählte Beiträge zur Abschätzung von Hochwasser und Feststofftransport in der Schweiz. Bern, Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Hydrologie und Limnologie (SGHL) und Schweizerische Hydrologische Kommission. 101-107.
Braun, S.; Schindler, C.; Flückiger, W., 2009: 25 Jahre Walddauerbeobachtung in der Schweiz. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 111.
Neumann, M., 2009: Ertragskundliche Dauerversuche – Fragen, Wege, Antworten. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 77-86.
Bugmann, H.; Brang, P., 2009: Ausgewählte Ergebnisse aus fünfzig Jahren Forschung in Schweizer Naturwaldreservaten. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 93-102.
Bebi, P.; Hagedorn, F.; Martin, M.; Rixen, C.; Senn, J.; Wasem, U., 2009: Langfristige Waldgrenzen-Forschung am Stillberg – vor lauter Bäumen den Wald noch sehen. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 87-92.
Brändli, U.; Duc, P., 2009: Indikatoren und Ergebnisse zur nachhaltigen Waldnutzung im Landesforstinventar LFI. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 59-66.
Egli, S., 2009: Mykorrhizapilze auf dem Rückzug – was bedeutet das für den Wald?. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 51-58.
Feldmeyer-Christe, E.; Graf, U.; Küchler, M.; Ecker, K.; Küchler, H.; Bedolla, A., 2009: Le futur des marais suisses: quelle place pour la forêt?. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 31-38.
Dobbertin, M.; Hug, C.; Waldner, P., 2009: Kronenverlichtung, Sterberaten und Wachstum in Langzeitstudien – Welche Indikatoren beschreiben den Waldzustand am besten?. In: Kräuchi, N.; Kirchner, J. (eds), 2009: Langzeitforschung für eine nachhaltige Waldnutzung. Forum für Wissen 2009, ETH Zürich, September 7, 2009. 7-20.
Kirchner, J.W., 2008: Herausforderungen für Forstwirtschaft und Waldforschung im 21. Jahrhundert (Essay). Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 159, 8: 224-227. doi: 10.3188/szf.2008.0224
Magazine article and brochures
Schneider, J.; Rickenmann, D.; Badoux, A.; Kirchner, J.W., 2013: Geschiebetransportmessungen in einem steilen Gebirgsbach. FAN Agenda, Fachleute Naturgefahren Schweiz, 6-8.
Nitsche, M.; Rickenmann, D.; Turowski, J.M.; Badoux, A.; Kirchner, J.W., 2012: Verbesserung von Geschiebevorhersagen in Wildbächen und Gebirgsflüssen durch Berücksichtigung von Makrorauigkeit. Wasser, Energie, Luft, 104, 2: 129-139.