Theme: Black Swans: Unexpected phenomena in hydrology

3th Symposium | 28th April, 2012
 

Vienna Catchment Science Symposium 2012

© Peter Haas

Black Swans are unexpected events or phenomena that are unpredictable and yet can cause a massive impact when they do occur.

In hindsight they appear more predictable than they actually were. In hydrology Black Swans can be extraordinary rainstorms, floods, sediment motion, landslides, and early solute breakthrough in the subsurface.

Programme

Time Sessions Location
08:30 Tea, coffee, pastries and greetings Foyer 3rd floor
08:45 Welcome and Introduction
Günter Blöschl, Vienna University of Technology, Austria		 Kuppelsaal
09:00 Black Swans in Eco-hydrology
Praveen Kumar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign		 Kuppelsaal
10:15 Tea and coffee Foyer 3rd floor
10:45 Black Swans in Flood Hydrology
Alberto Viglione, Vienna University of Technology, Austria		 Kuppelsaal
11:55 Short break  
12:00 Black Swans and Solute Transport in Soils
Erwin Zehe, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology		 Kuppelsaal
13:10 Lunch Foyer 3rd Floor
14:15 Small Group Discussion Sessions
Group 1: Sightings of Black Swans
Brainstorming experiences of Black Swans
Aim: to generate a “survey of sightings” of Black Swans in hydrology
Moderator: Alberto Viglione		 Kuppelsaal
  Group 2: Tackling Black Swans
Brainstorming how data collection and models need to be adapted to account for Black Swans
Aim: to create a strategy for tackling Black Swans in hydrologic predictions
Moderator: Erwin Zehe		 Seminar room 222
  Group 3: A theory of Black Swans
Brainstorming towards a theory that can accommodate Black Swans
Aim: to develop a conceptual framework to accommodate Black Swans in hydrological theories
Moderator: Praveen Kumar		 Seminar room 212
16:00 Tea and coffee Foyer 3rd floor
16:30 Plenary: Exchange of group findings Kuppelsaal
18:00 Evening drinks reception Foyer 3rd floor
19:00 Dinner Foyer 3rd floor