This seminar is part of the Tuesday Seminar Series organized by the Center for Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN) at the University of Neuchâtel. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Antoine Di Ciacca from the University of Neuchâtel, who will discuss numerical modelling of water, energy and solute transfer in the critical zone, focusing on soils and river–aquifer interfaces.

Abstract
Modelling the transfer of water, energy and solutes within the critical zone is crucial for water management, agricultural production and environmental protection. In this talk, we will focus on two hotspots: soils and the river-aquifer interface. These hotspots are where the land surface and subsurface environments meet and thus where important processes occur. The numerical modelling of such processes is challenging due to the complexity of the physical phenomena, the high spatio-temporal variability, and the difficulty of observing the quantities of interest. In this talk, I will first touch upon how model complexity, heterogeneity and parameterisation are related. I will then present a few examples of studies that aimed at representing process complexity and media heterogeneity in numerical models that can be used for practical purposes. Finally, we will discuss the limitations of current approaches and open avenues for future research that might be tackled in the future.