Large-N Seismic Networks for Studying Spatial and Temporal Variations in Alpine Bedload Transport

Bedload forms an important component of the global sediment budget, in particular in mountain regions, where it reshapes stream morphology, catchment areas and entire landscapes. Modern seismo-acoustic methods can monitor bedload at a high temporal resolution, but instrument costs have mostly confined these deployments to one or a few discrete locations along a stream. The link between temporal variations in bedload transport and changes upstream, like sediment input or bedform erosion, is therefore still elusive. The main goal of this project is to develop a new monitoring approach to resolve bedload variations in both space and time. 

We will extend the seismic monitoring approach and leverage recent developments in low-cost and portable sensor technology, now allowing for "Large-N" deployments. We propose to install a chain of seismic nodes along Swiss torrent reaches to identify locations where sediment is mobilized, where it is deposited and how fast sediment bursts move downstream.