It is challenging to represent streamflow from catchments with high permafrost and glacier fractions with classic hydrological models. The CryoGrid community model is a simulation toolbox primarily designed for permafrost and glacier applications, but it can also simulate runoff in a simplified way. CryoGrid is especially capable of representing topography and land cover at the meter scale, which may especially improve simulations of snowmelt.
The goal of the thesis is to set CryoGrid up for a small gauged catchment, e.g. the roughly 10x10 km Bayelva catchment near Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard, and for the first time characterize its performance for streamflow simulations.
Different subtasks involve comparison of model forcing data to measurements at different altitudes in the catchment; compilation of a simple landcover map, distinguishing for example glaciers, blocky ground, moraines and vegetated areas; comparison of simulated ground temperature, evaporation or glacier mass balance to measurements at selected points in the catchment; comparison of resulting streamflow characteristics to measurements.
CryoGrid is written in Matlab, and although the thesis does not involve much actual programming, good programming skills (Python, Matlab, or similar) are beneficial. Collaboration with NVE is likely possible but must be confirmed.