We present a new model extension for the Water balance Simulation Model, WaSiM, which features (i) snow interception and (ii) modified meteorological conditions under coniferous forest canopies, complementing recently developed model extensions for particular mountain hydrological processes. Two study areas in Austria and Germany are considered in this study. To supplement and constrain the modelling experiments with on-site observations, a network of terrestrial time-lapse cameras was set up in one of these catchments. The spatiotemporal patterns of snow depth inside the forest and at the adjacent open field sites were recorded along with snow interception dynamics. Comparison of observed and modelled snow cover and canopy interception indicates that the new version of WaSiM reliably reconstructs the variability of snow accumulation for both the forest and the open field. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency computed for selected runoff events in spring increases from −0.68 to 0.71 and 0.21 to 0.87, respectively.

In small Alpine catchments, floods are mostly triggered by surface runoff generation during convective heavy precipitation events. Their magnitude also depends on the antecedent soil moisture content, which was shown in several previous studies. This study aims at understanding (a) which sites change their surface runoff response to rainfall events with high precipitation intensity under very moist pre-conditions to what extent and (b) on which site characteristics this depends on. Therefore, we conducted repeated rainfall simulation experiments (40–80 m², 1 h, 100 mm h⁻¹) at 20 sites in five Eastern Alpine areas and analyzed their results on the basis of soil-physical parameters derived from collected soil samples.

Rockfalls are a major aspect concerning morphodynamics in high mountain areas and represent a serious hazard for people and infrastructure. Recently, an increase of rockfall activity has been observed which is probably related to the destabilization of rock slopes through climate-related changes of the mountain cryosphere. This study investigates the rockfall distribution during a 4-year monitoring period by systematic observation with bi-temporal Airborne Laser Scanning DTMs in an area of 610.7 km² in the Ötztal Alps/Tyrol, Austria. The analyses of the 93 detected rockfall events indicate that rockfall activity is highest in proglacial areas. Further 83.9% of all rockfall source areas were mapped in bedrock where the modelled mean annual ground temperature (MAGT) indicates perennial frozen conditions. The results demonstrate the importance of thermal effects on the destabilization of rock faces and show that the triggering of rockfalls is closely related to changes in the glacier and permafrost regime. 18 low-magnitude rockfalls with volumes between 69 ± 3 m³ and 8420 ± 89 m³ are examined in detail. On the base of the analysis of these events energy line angles of 28.7° for the Fahrböschung and 19.9° for the minimum shadow angle can be derived and significantly longer runout distances on glaciated rockfall paths are observed.

While science widely acknowledges the necessity of climate change adaptation (CCA), concrete strategies for CCA by major land-use actor groups at a local level are largely missing. Immediate economic challenges often prevent the establishment of long-term collective strategies. However, collective decisions on a communal level regarding land use are crucial for CCA strategies, given the interdependencies of farming with forestry, tourism, and other economic sectors, especially in mountain areas. This paper presents inter- and trans-disciplinary learning processes, which have evolved into a project modelling the hydrological effects of combined future climate and land-use changes based on the combined scenarios of climate and socio-economic change in an Alpine valley (Brixental in Tyrol/Austria). Locally adapted scenarios illustrate future land-use changes as a result of both climate change and different socio-economic developments. The hydrological results show how an increase in the forested area reduces streamflow (as a measure of water availability) in the long term. For local stakeholders, the process demonstrated clearly the interdependence of different economic sectors and the necessity for collective action at a regional level to influence socio-economic development. Moreover, it made them aware that local decisions on future land use may influence the effects of climate change. Consistent storylines helped stakeholders to visualize a desired future and to see their scope of influence. The transdisciplinary research process allowed local stakeholders to translate the hydrological modelling results into a concrete local CCA strategy.

The Brixenbach valley is a small Alpine torrent catchment (9.2 km², 820–1950 m a.s.l., 47.45°, 12.26°) in Tyrol, Austria. Intensive hydrological research in the catchment since more than 12 years, including a hydrogeological survey, pedological and land use mapping, measurements of precipitation, runoff, soil moisture and infiltration as well as the conduction of rainfall simulations, has contributed to understand the hydrological response of the catchment, its subcatchments and specific sites. The paper presents a synthesis of the research in form of runoff process maps for different soil moisture states and precipitation characteristics, derived with the aid of a newly developed Soil‐hydrological model. These maps clearly visualize the differing runoff reaction of different subcatchments. The pasture dominated areas produce high surface flow rates during short precipitation events (1 h, 86 mm) with high rainfall intensity, whilst the forested areas often develop shallow subsurface flow. Dry preconditions lead to a slight reduction of surface flow, long rainfall events (24 h, 170 mm) to a dominance of deep subsurface flow and percolation.