Sebastiano Piccolroaz

The activity aims to apply a hydro-morphodynamic model to analyze sedimentation and cleaning processes at the inlet  of the Adige-Garda tunnel. The objective is to understand the dynamics and timing of the formation of sediment deposits and their removal processes during routine maintenance maneuvers, in order to optimize these maneuvers and ensure an effective cleaning system.

The thesis proposal involves using BASEMENT software for hydromorphological modeling of a selected case study, aiming to design structural interventions in a river to improve the hydraulic protection of the territory and/or promote the restoration/renaturalization of the watercourse. The case study can be proposed by the student or identified in collaboration with Servizio Bacini Montani of the Autonomous Province of Trento, where the candidate can spend a period of activity. The methodological approach includes a preliminary phase of data collection and analysis, followed by the implementation of the hydromorphodynamic model for the current state and the simulation of various design solutions.

This thesis proposal focuses on the collection and analysis of experimental wave spectrum data in alpine lakes using a wave meter. The primary objective is to characterize wave dynamics and understand their seasonal and meteorological variations. Wave measurements will be accompanied by other standard water quality or turbulence measurements.

Valvometry is a technique that monitors the opening and closing of mussel shells to assess their response to environmental changes. Mussels will be installed in the Noce stream to understand the impact of thermo-hydropeaking on the aquatic ecosystem through the analysis of their behavior. Valvometric monitoring will be supplemented by the use of conventional sensors (temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen). The field activity can be complemented by experimental work in the laboratory.

References:
- https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2023/egusphere-2023-2405/egusphere-2023-2405.pdf

Definition of the thermal balance of an Alpine lake through i) calibration of the site-specific parameters for the quantification of the surface heat fluxes and ii) setup of a script (preferably in Python or R) for the real time evaluation of such fluxes based on the  meteorological and temperature data acquired at the lake. The thesis will be co-advised by Dr. Ulrike Obertegger (Edmund Mach Foundation), site manager of the LTER (Long-Term Ecosystem Research, https://lter-tovel.fmach.it/) site in Tovel.

keywords: energy budget; lake-atmosphere fluxes; temperature; climate

The student will analyze CO2 flux measurements acquired at the lake-atmosphere interface in Lake Geneva, between 2020 and 2021. The data will be analyzed in the context of the available water temperature, turbulence and lake-atmosphere energy fluxes available for the same period (www.lexplore.info). It will be possible to organize additional fieldwork for CO2 flux measurements in some alpine lakes in Trentino.

Keywords: CO2 fluxes; turbulence; lake-atmosphere interaction

The project is aimed at extending the air2water model (https://github.com/spiccolroaz/air2water) towards a global model usable to predict lake surface water temperature also in ungauged lakes. Remote sensing data will be used.

keywords: limnology, cluster analysis, water temperature

Some references:
- https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/17/3323/2013/hess-17-3323-2013.html
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-020-02663-z

The present thesis project aims at extending the air2stream model adding the prediction of dissolved oxygen and turbidity, besides water temperature. For the analysis, the student will use data from some relevant Swiss rivers.

Keywords: river water temperature; modelling; hydrology; water quality

Info about air2stream: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/10/11/114011/pdf

Acquisition and processing of turbulence microstructure profiles using a profiler equipped with shear, temperature and conductivity microstructure sensors operated in the Venice Lagoon. The thesis may focus on i) the analysis and description of the profiles in light of the meteorological and stratification conditions or ii) the comparison of the data acquired by the three types of microstructure sensors to shed light on the time response of fast thermistors (a largely debated issue among the scientific community). 

The student will analyze microstructure turbulence profiles acquired in Lake Garda in 2017-2018. The student will focus on the description and interpretation of the seasonal and spatial variability, specifically focusing on the data acquired along one transect during persistent wind events and a 24h field campaign. Depending on the availability of the instruments and interest of the student, it is possible to organize new fieldwork activity to integrate the existing dataset.

keywords: turbulence; limnology; mixing; environmental fluid mechanics.

References: 
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-021-00965-0

The thesis will focus on the analysis of historical trends of surface water temperature in >600 lakes worldwide, considering i) time series of observed data during the last decades (remote sensing) and ii) hindcast time series from 1900 (air2water), looking for possible clusters depending on climate regions and morphological characteristics.

References: 
- https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/17/3323/2013/hess-17-3323-2013.html
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-020-02663-z