Dr. Käthi Liechti

Fonction

collaboratrice scientifique

Hydrologie de montagne et mouvements de masse

Prévisions hydrologiques

Contact

kaethi.liechti(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 24 28+41 44 739 24 28

Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi LG D 03

Research Interests

Flash-flood and flood early warning systems
Operational forecasting systems
Forecast communication
Weather radar and hydrology
Hydrological extreme events
Probabilistic forecast analysis

Publications

Liechti, K., Panziera, L., Germann, U., and Zappa, M.: Flash-flood early warning using weather radar data: from nowcasting to forecasting, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., 10, 1289-1331, 10.5194/hessd-10-1289-2013, 2013.

Liechti, K., Zappa, M., Fundel, F., and Germann, U.: Probabilistic evaluation of ensemble discharge nowcasts in two nested Alpine basins prone to flash floods, Hydrological Processes, 27, 5-17, 10.1002/hyp.9458, 2013.

Liechti, K., Fundel, F., Germann, U., and Zappa, M.: Flood nowcasting in the Southern Swiss Alps using radar ensemble; In Weather Radar and Hydrology, Moore RJ, Cole SJ, Illingworth AJ eds). Red Book: Exeter, UK, 351, 2012.

Rossa, A., Liechti, K., Zappa, M., Bruen, M., Germann, U., Haase, G., Keil, C., and Krahe, P.: The COST 731 Action: A review on uncertainty propagation in advanced hydro-meteorological forecast systems, Atmospheric Research, 100, 150-167, DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosres.2010.11.016, 2011.

Salvetti, A., Zappa, M., Liechti, K.: Previsione delle piene improvvise nei piccoli bacini. In: Barbero S. (Ed.). La difesa dalle alluvioni nel territorio alpino (Report conclusivo del progetto FLORA). ISBN 978-88-7479-110-1. pp 63-87, 2012.

Zappa, M., Jaun, S., Badoux, A., Schwanbeck, J., Addor, N., Liechti, K., Roeser, I., Walser, A., Viviroli, D., Vogt, S., Gerber, M., Trösch, J., Weingartner, R., Oplatka, M., Bezzola, G.R., Rhyner, J.: IFKIS-Hydro Sihl: Ein operationelles Hochwasservorhersagesystem für die Stadt Zürich und das Sihltal. Wasser, Energie, Luft, Heft 3/2010: S. 238-248, 2010.

Education

04/2009 – 12/2012	Ph.D. at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) and the Department of Geography of the University of Zurich (Switzerland). Title: Uncertainty Propagation in Operational Flash Flood Forecasting Systems.
10/2003 – 11/2008	Master studies in Geography at the University of Zurich. Specialisation: Physical Geography, Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Sciences.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Swiss flood and landslide damage database

Since 1972 the WSL has been systematically collecting (based on newspapers) and analysed storm damage. The spatial distribution of the damage from 1972 to 2016 and during some large events can be viewed on an interactive map.

Responsable: Käthi Liechti

IFKIS Hydro Sihl

WSL develops and operates a probabilistic flood forecasting system for the pre-alpine catchment of the river Sihl. Floods can be detected early through a series of daily performed predictions.

ICOS-2: Integrated Carbon Observation System in Switzerland, Phase 2017-2021

Die Forschungsstation Seehornwald Davos wurde in den 80er-Jahren von der WSL initiiert und ist damit eine der ältesten permanent betriebenen Wald-Vegetations-Forschungsstationen in der Schweiz.

TreeNet - The biological drought and growth indicator network

TreeNet ist ein internationales Beobachtungs- und Forschungsnetzwerk, in dem Punktdendrometer automatisch die täglichen Stammradiusschwankungen von Bäumen erfassen. Der kontinuierliche Fluss von Daten liefert Echtzeitinformationen über die Wasserverhältnisse im Baum und das radial Stammwachstum

Wasserbilanz der Schweiz

Modellgestützte Bilanzierung des Wasserhaushaltes der Grosseinzugsgebiete der Schweiz

Remote measurement of flood runoff

To investigate flood peaks and volumes in torrents, a method is being developed which allows remote triggering of the discharge measurement. Images of the precipitation radar are used to determine the time of measurement.

Process-based runoff generation approach for hydrological models

In collaboration with Scherrer AG and GmbH Soilcom a new runoff module is generated for hydrological models. Spatially distributed process information from so-called runoff process maps, which are based on field recordings and geographical bases, will be integrated into the module.

IFKIS Hydro Sihl

WSL develops and operates a probabilistic flood forecasting system for the pre-alpine catchment of the river Sihl. Floods can be detected early through a series of daily performed predictions.

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Rohner, B.; Kumar, S.; Liechti, K.; Gessler, A.; Ferretti, M., 2021: Tree vitality indicators revealed a rapid response of beech forests to the 2018 drought. Ecological Indicators, 120: 106903 (10 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106903

Salehi, M.; Walthert, L.; Zimmermann, S.; Waldner, P.; Schmitt, M.; Schleppi, P.; Liechti, K.; Ahmadi, M.; Zahedi Amiri, G.; Brunner, I.; Thimonier, A., 2020: Leaf morphological traits and leaf nutrient concentrations of European beech across a water availability gradient in Switzerland. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 3: 19 (18 pp.). doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2020.00019

Brunner, M.I.; Liechti, K.; Zappa, M., 2019: Extremeness of recent drought events in Switzerland: dependence on variable and return period choice. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 19, 10: 2311-2323. doi: 10.5194/nhess-19-2311-2019

Liechti, K.; Zappa, M., 2019: Hydrological ensemble prediction systems around the globe. In: Duan, Q.; Pappenberger, F.; Wood, A.; Cloke, H.L.; Schaake, J.C. (eds), 2019: Handbook of hydrometeorological ensemble forecasting. Berlin; Heidelberg, Springer. 953-975. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-39925-1_5

Bogner, K.; Liechti, K.; Bernhard, L.; Monhart, S.; Zappa, M., 2018: Skill of hydrological extended range forecasts for water resources management in Switzerland. Water Resources Management, 32, 3: 969-984. doi: 10.1007/s11269-017-1849-5

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Further scientific publications

Wohlgemuth, T.; Liechti, K., 2020: Klima. In: Zürcherische Botanische Gesellschaft; Del Fabbro, C.; Wohlgemuth, T.; Keel, A.; Kessler, M.; Nobis, M. (eds), 2020: Flora des Kantons Zürich. Bern, Haupt Verlag. 31-35.

Liechti, K.; Zappa, M., 2016: Verification of short-range hydrological forecasts. In: Duan, Q.; Pappenberger, F.; Thielen, J.; Wood, A.; Cloke, H.L.; Schaake, J.C. (eds), 2016: Handbook of hydrometeorological ensemble forecasting. Berlin, Springer. (24 pp.). doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-40457-3_5-1

Alfieri, L.; Berenguer, M.; Knechtl, V.; Liechti, K.; Sempere-Torres, D.; Zappa, M., 2016: Flash flood forecasting based on rainfall thresholds. In: Duan, Q.; Pappenberger, F.; Thielen, J.; Wood, A.; Cloke, H.L.; Schaake, J.C. (eds), 2016: Handbook of hydrometeorological ensemble forecasting. Berlin, Springer. (35 pp.). doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-40457-3_49-1

Liechti, K.; Oplatka, M.; Eisenhut, N.; Zappa, M., 2016: Early flood warning for the City of Zurich. Evaluation of real-time operations since 2010. In: Koboltschnig, G. (eds), 2016: 13th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2016. 30 May to 2 June 2016. Lucerne, Switzerland. Conference proceedings "Living with natural risks". 13th congress INTERPRAEVENT 2016, Lucerne, Switzerland, May 30-June 2, 2016. 944-951.

Zappa, M.; Liechti, K.; Schneider, U.; Hodel, H.H., 2013: Verbesserung von Pegelschlüsselkurven: probabilistische Vorhersagen zur gezielten Planung und Durchführung von Abflussmessungen während Hochwasserereignissen. In: Weingartner, R.; Schädler, B. (eds), 2013: Wasserressourcen im globalen Wandel. Hydrologische Grundlagen - von der Messung zur Anwendung. Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie. Tag der Hydrologie, Bern, April 4-6, 2013. 25-30.

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Magazine article and brochures

Liechti, K.; Badoux, A.; Röthlisberger, G.; Loat, R.; Bezzola, G.R., 2023: 50 Jahre Erfassung von Unwetterschäden. Forstzeitung, 134, 5: 14-15.

Liechti, K.; Badoux, A.; Röthlisberger, G.; Loat, R.; Bezzola, G.R., 2022: 50 Jahre Erfassung von Unwetterschäden in der Schweiz. Wasser, Energie, Luft, 114, 4: 247-248.

Liechti, K.; Matter, D.; Lustenberger, F.; Badoux, A., 2022: Unwetterschäden in der Schweiz 2021. Hochwasser, Murgänge, Rutschungen und Sturzprozesse. Wasser, Energie, Luft, 114, 2: 85-93.

Lustenberger, F.; Liechti, K.; Barben, M.; Zappa, M., 2022: Wasserhaushalt der Schweiz 2021. Einordnung und Besonderheiten, Einführung der Normperiode 1991 bis 2020. Wasser, Energie, Luft, 114, 2: 94-97.

Liechti, K.; Barben, M.; Zappa, M., 2021: Wasserhaushalt der Schweiz 2020. Einordnung und Besonderheiten. Wasser, Energie, Luft, 113, 2: 87-88.

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