Topics Bachelor's theses in Earth and Climate Sciences

In the framework of the Swiss glacier monitoring, mass balance is measured on Rhonegletscher. Since 2011 extensive surveys with snow depth probings in spring are complemented with GPR measurements along a longitudinal transect. Density information is needed to determine the water equivalent of the snow layer. In addition, the propagation of the electromagnetic wave is required to transform GPR travel times into correct snow thicknesses. This depends on the material properties essentially defined again by the bulk density of the snow layer. The task will be the processing of the GPR data recorded in April 2026 based on the strategy established for previous surveys. Evaluation will include the interpretation of the subsurface structure and the analysis of the snow layer accumulated during the winter 2025/26. Results will be compared to the independent snow depth sampling and the results of the previous surveys. This will allow to investigate the inter-annual variations of the spatial distribution. In addition an assessment of the density and electromagnetic wave velocity, both critical parameter of the data evaluation, is envisaged.

Better understanding of the spatial snow depth distribution. Assessment of snow density and the potential of electromagnetic wave velocity for bulk density estimates.

For further information please contact: Andreas Bauder (bauder@vaw.baug.ethz.ch) or Hansruedi Maurer (hansruedi.maurer@erdw.ethz.ch)