Tor Haakon Bakken
Hydromorphological alterations are one of the main pressures in many countries in EU and one of the dominant factors why surface water bodies are not in high or good ecological status. In Norway, hydropower regulation is the single most important pressure, causing deviations from natural conditions in both rivers and lakes. Recently, there have been initiatives in Norway to establish a hydromorphological classification system for rivers and lakes/reservoirs, respectively. Presently, the classification system for rivers undergo testing by a group of researchers closely collaborating with regional authorities, while the similar classification system for lakes/reservoirs has not yet been tested. The aim of the thesis would be to test and evaluate the classification.
The student must collect available literature, maps and data related to the tasks specified. The following shall be carried out during the project/thesis:
- Selection of lakes and reservoir to classify according to the newly developed classification system for lakes and reservoirs
- Carry out the actual classification, based on publicly available data and information
- Supplement and/or verify the classification by field work/visits, if needed
- Compare the hydromorphological classification with the existing ecological classification of the same lakes/reservoirs
- Evaluate the classification system