Spatially distributed hydrologic response in a small catchment in the Swiss Alps

A continuous field campaign since 2008 was designed in order to understand the spatial heterogeneity of hydrologic and meteorological variables over a complex terrain and the consequences for river flow generation. The study area is located in the Swiss Alps, close to the Gd-St-Bernard, in the upper part of the Val de Ferret. The catchment has a total area of 20 km2 and the altitudes ranges from 1777 m to 3206 m. Steep complex terrain, entirely covered with snow from November to May and deep gullies are the main features of the study area. A system of 15 meteorological stations equipped with standard meteorological and soil sensors (moisture, suction and temperature) were deployed in a network spread over the study area to capture the heterogeneity of the meteorological forcing relevant to micrometeorological processes and its impact on snow melt, soil moisture distribution and stream runoff. Stream discharge from the catchment is also continuously monitored. The role of snow melt and local geomorphology on the seasonal and daily discharge is discussed.