image: Günter Blöschl
Credit: TU Wien
The world's highest award for scientific achievement in the field of water research goes to Prof. Günter Blöschl of TU Wien. For many years, he and his team at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management have been carrying out internationally recognised work in the field of flood research. The Stockholm Water Prize will be officially presented to him by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in August; this year's winner was announced in time for World Water Day on 22 March.
World leader in flood research
“Professor Günter Blöschl is the world’s leading flood hydrologist”, the prize committee wrote in its statement. “He has made groundbreaking contributions to understanding the drivers of increasing flood risks under climate change coupled to the strong influence of regional flood processes. His observation-based connection between climate and floods revealed that the last two decades have been markedly flood-prone compared to the historical record.”
Günter Blöschl's research is at the interface of hydraulic engineering, climate and society. Historical data and new computer models can be used to estimate the risk of droughts and floods. In particular, Blöschl and his team have carefully studied the frequency and dynamics of flood events on European rivers.
They have also collected experimental data: he has set up a hydrological laboratory in Petzenkirchen, Lower Austria, where sixty hectares of sensors are used to study water movements and material cycles in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between precipitation, groundwater and runoff.
The results clearly show that climate change is having a significant impact on water cycles and flooding, although not in the same way in every area. Based on Blöschl's analyses, it is now possible to understand exactly which regions are affected and how.
Blöschl has also attracted international attention with his 'socio-hydrology' approach: people influence water and water influences people. Long-term hydrological predictions are only possible if human intervention in the water cycle can also be predicted. And long-term forecasts of the economy, settlement patterns and population density are only possible if hydrological changes can be correctly predicted. Blöschl is therefore convinced that in many cases human activities and water cycles need to be considered as a whole system - a 'socio-hydrological' unit.
Günter Blöschl
“This is a great honour,” says Günter Blöschl on receiving the award. “It makes me realise how lucky I am to work with such brilliant people.” Blöschl leads a large team at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management and is also head of the 'Water Resources Systems' PhD programme. Among the many research partners around the world with whom he has collaborated in recent years are Taikan Oki and Andreas Rinaldo, who have also received the Stockholm Water Prize.
Günter Blöschl sees himself as a citizen of the world - and his research career has been very international. He studied civil engineering at TU Wien and has done research at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada), the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. He grew up in Vienna, where he currently lives with his family, three children and four grandchildren.
Günter Blöschl has received numerous awards, including an ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council and the Horton Medal from the American Geophysical Union. He is a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), a member of the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and was a senator of the Helmholtz Association for the Research Field 'Earth and Environment'.