Hydrological Drivers of Bedload Transport in an Alpine Watershed

Understanding and predicting bedload transport is an important element of watershed management. Yet, predictions remain uncertain by up to several order(s) magnitude. In this contribution, we use a five-year continuous time-series streamflow monitoring in 13.4 km2 snow-dominated Alpine the Western Swiss Alps investigate hydrological drivers transport. Following calibration sensors, quantification hydraulic forcing upon bedload, analysis performed identify daily flow hydrographs influenced different drivers: rainfall, snowmelt, combined rain snowmelt events. We then quantify their respective contribution Results emphasize importance events, for both annual volumes (77% on average) peaks rate. A non-negligible, but smaller, amount may occur during late summer autumn storms, once baseflow have significantly decreased (9% volume average). Although rainfall-driven changes are responsible large majority (86% average), identified melt-only events also represent substantial (14 % The results study help improve current through better understanding magnitude-frequency relationship under conditions. further discuss how could evolve changing climate its effects hydrology.