Pascal Emanuel Egli
About
- PhD from Université de Lausanne, Switzerland (2022)
- Msc of Environmental Engineering from ETH Zürich, Switzerland (2014)
- Bsc of "Environmental Science and Engineering" from EPFL, Switzerland (2011)
Pascal Egli has a PhD in Geography from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland ("ice-marginal subglacial channels and their relationship to the rapid retreat of temperate Alpine glaciers", 2022), and a Master degree of Environmental Engineering (Water Resources Management and Hydraulic Design) from ETH Zurich (2014), with a thesis on the topic of Large Eddy Simulations for urban canopies. He has work experience in natural hazards engineering, including hydraulic modelling in 1D and 2D.
Pascal has done glaciology fieldwork on several Alpine glaciers in the Swiss Alps, on Norwegian glaciers, on outlet glaciers of the Northern Patagonian Ice Sheet in Chile, on surge-type glaciers in Pakistan, on natural hazards in Uganda as well as in the Nepal Himalayas, using methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar, hot water drilling, UAV photogrammetry, tracer experiments, installation of sensors and meteo stations, and dGPS.
Research
Research areas:
- subglacial hydrology
- glacier hazards / GLOFs
- Ground Penetrating Radar on glaciers
- hydrological extremes : floods & droughts
- climate adaptation
- Geographical areas: Himalayas, Norway, Alps, Andes, East Africa
PhD students:
- Léa Rodari (CryoSCOPE)
- Akshayi Ajaykumar Shyma (Threatened Lifelines)
- Noëlie Maurin (Snowland)
- Maximo Twinomuhangi Bashejia (MERIT)
Previous PhD students:
- Mohammed Mussa Abdulahi (MERIT, 2026)
Please find current research projects below:
CryoSCOPE
GRAFI
RETRACE
Threatened Lifelines
Moulins Plaine Morte
GOTHECA
Publications
Gong, Y., Bly, K., da Silva Hyldmo, H., Egli, P., & Basso, S. (2026). Integrating glacier hydrological modeling and stakeholder perceptions: implications for hydropower production in western Norway. Global Sustainability, 9, e23. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2026.10059
Abdulahi, M. M., Egli, P. E., Belayneh, A., Bamutaze, Y., Nakakaawa, C. A., & Dejene, S. W. (2026). Evaluating Grazing Management for Drought Reduction Under Different Climate Change Scenarios. Climate, 14(4), 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli14040086
Irarrazaval, I., Somos-Valenzuela, M., Dussaillant, I., Lizama, E., Morales, B., Egli, P. E., & Reid, B. (2026). Shifts in glacier dynamics during land-to-lake terminus transition in western Patagonia. Journal of Glaciology, 72, e34. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10144
Twinomuhangi, M. B., Bamutaze, Y., Isolo, P. M., Kabenge, I., Wanyama, J., Kizza, M., ... & Egli, P. E. (2026). Performance of different reanalysis rainfall datasets and hydrological models in gap-filling for Mpologoma catchment in Eastern Uganda. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 65, 103416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103416
Abdulahi, M. M., Egli, P. E., Belayneh, A., Bamutaze, Y., & Dejene, S. W. (2025). Impact of Climate Change on Drought Dynamics in the Ganale Dawa River Basin, Ethiopia. Climate, 13(11), 231. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13110231
Sanchez R, Egli PE, Jornet K, Duggan M, Besomi M. How fractal complexity distorts distance and elevation gain in trail and mountain running: The case for course measurement standardization. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/17543371251341660
Twinomuhangi, M. B., Bamutaze, Y., Kabenge, I., Wanyama, J., Kizza, M., Gabiri, G., & Egli, P. E. (2025). Analysis of stationary and non-stationary hydrological extremes under a changing environment: A systematic review. HydroResearch. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hydres.2024.12.007
Abdulahi, M. M., & Egli, P. E. (2025). Landslides triggered by the July 21–22, 2024, heavy rainfall in the Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-024-02397-4
Sanchez, R., Egli, P., Besomi, M., & Truffello, R. (2024, July). Assessing the impact of Digital Elevation Model resolution on Elevation Gain Estimations in Trail Running. In 2024 International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Energy Technologies (ICECET (pp. 1-5). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.51224/SRXIV.481
Egli, P. E., Belotti, B., Ouvry, B., Irving, J., & Lane, S. N. (2021). Subglacial channels, climate warming, and increasing frequency of Alpine glacier snout collapse. Geophysical Research Letters, e2021GL096031. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL096031
Egli, P. E., Irving, J., & Lane, S. N. (2021). Characterization of subglacial marginal channels using 3-D analysis of high-density ground-penetrating radar data. Journal of Glaciology, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.26
Giometto, M. G., Christen, A., Egli, P. E., Schmid, M. F., Tooke, R. T., Coops, N. C., & Parlange, M. B. (2017). Effects of trees on mean wind, turbulence and momentum exchange within and above a real urban environment. Advances in Water Resources, 106, 154-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.06.018
Ayala, A., Pellicciotti, F., MacDonell, S., McPhee, J., Vivero, S., Campos, C., & Egli, P. (2016). Modelling the hydrological response of debris‐free and debris‐covered glaciers to present climatic conditions in the semiarid Andes of central Chile. Hydrological Processes, 30(22), 4036-4058. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10971
Egli, P., Ayala, A., Buri, P., & Pellicciotti, F. (2016, April). An improved method to compute supraglacial debris thickness using thermal satellite images together with an Energy Balance Model in the Nepal Himalayas. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (pp. EPSC2016-15584). (conference poster)
Egli, P., Mankoff, K., Mettra, F., & Lane, S. (2017, April). Determination of sub-daily glacier uplift and horizontal flow velocity with time-lapse images using ImGRAFT. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (p. 6095). (conference poster)
2026
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Nakakaawa-Jjunju, Charlotte Anne;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2026)
Evaluation of bush encroachment control effectiveness in reducing drought under different climate change scenarios.
Theoretical and Applied Climatology
Academic article
-
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Chi, Guangqing;
Comes, Hugo;
Gavenus, Erika;
Wheeler, Emma Lea;
Calovi, Martina;
Gherardi, Jeanne;
Opach, Tomasz;
Scherzer, Sabrina Stefanie Claudia;
Serre, Damien.
(2026)
RETRACE Project: How to Enhance Resilience to Climate Risks in Pacific and Arctic Indigenous Communities?.
Sustainable Development
Academic article
-
Irarrazaval, Inigo;
Somos-Valenzuela, Marcelo;
Dussaillant, Inés;
Lizama, Elizabet;
Morales, Bastian;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Reid, Brian.
(2026)
Shifts in glacier dynamics during land-to-lake terminus transition in western Patagonia.
Journal of Glaciology
Academic article
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed Mussa;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Nakakaawa-Jjunju, Charlotte Anne;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2026)
Evaluating Grazing Management for Drought Reduction Under Different Climate Change Scenarios.
Climate
Academic article
-
Gong, Yongmei;
Bly, Kristine Katherine;
Hyldmo, Håkon da Silva;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Basso, Stefano.
(2026)
Integrating glacier hydrological modelling and stakeholder perceptions: implications for hydropower production in Western Norway.
Global Sustainability
Academic article
-
Twinomuhangi, Maximo Basheija;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Isolo, Paul Mukwaya;
Kabenge, Isa;
Wanyama, Joshua;
Kizza, Michael;
Gabiri, Geoffrey;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel.
(2026)
Performance of different reanalysis rainfall datasets and hydrological models in gap-filling for Mpologoma catchment in Eastern Uganda.
Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies
Academic article
2025
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed Mussa;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2025)
Impact of Climate Change on Drought Dynamics in the Ganale Dawa River Basin, Ethiopia.
Climate
Academic article
-
Sanchez, Raimundo;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Jornet, Kilian;
Duggan, Michael;
Besomi, Manuela.
(2025)
How fractal complexity distorts distance and elevation gain in trail and mountain running: The case for course measurement standardization.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part P, Journal of sports engineering and technology
Academic article
-
Twinomuhangi, Maximo Basheija;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Kabenge, Isa;
Wanyama, Joshua;
Kizza, Michael;
Gabiri, Geoffrey;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel.
(2025)
Analysis of stationary and non-stationary hydrological extremes under a changing environment: A systematic review.
HydroResearch
Academic literature review
Journal publications
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Nakakaawa-Jjunju, Charlotte Anne;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2026)
Evaluation of bush encroachment control effectiveness in reducing drought under different climate change scenarios.
Theoretical and Applied Climatology
Academic article
-
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Chi, Guangqing;
Comes, Hugo;
Gavenus, Erika;
Wheeler, Emma Lea;
Calovi, Martina;
Gherardi, Jeanne;
Opach, Tomasz;
Scherzer, Sabrina Stefanie Claudia;
Serre, Damien.
(2026)
RETRACE Project: How to Enhance Resilience to Climate Risks in Pacific and Arctic Indigenous Communities?.
Sustainable Development
Academic article
-
Irarrazaval, Inigo;
Somos-Valenzuela, Marcelo;
Dussaillant, Inés;
Lizama, Elizabet;
Morales, Bastian;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Reid, Brian.
(2026)
Shifts in glacier dynamics during land-to-lake terminus transition in western Patagonia.
Journal of Glaciology
Academic article
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed Mussa;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Nakakaawa-Jjunju, Charlotte Anne;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2026)
Evaluating Grazing Management for Drought Reduction Under Different Climate Change Scenarios.
Climate
Academic article
-
Gong, Yongmei;
Bly, Kristine Katherine;
Hyldmo, Håkon da Silva;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Basso, Stefano.
(2026)
Integrating glacier hydrological modelling and stakeholder perceptions: implications for hydropower production in Western Norway.
Global Sustainability
Academic article
-
Twinomuhangi, Maximo Basheija;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Isolo, Paul Mukwaya;
Kabenge, Isa;
Wanyama, Joshua;
Kizza, Michael;
Gabiri, Geoffrey;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel.
(2026)
Performance of different reanalysis rainfall datasets and hydrological models in gap-filling for Mpologoma catchment in Eastern Uganda.
Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies
Academic article
-
Abdulahi, Mohammed Mussa;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Belayneh, Anteneh;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Dejene, Sintayehu W..
(2025)
Impact of Climate Change on Drought Dynamics in the Ganale Dawa River Basin, Ethiopia.
Climate
Academic article
-
Sanchez, Raimundo;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel;
Jornet, Kilian;
Duggan, Michael;
Besomi, Manuela.
(2025)
How fractal complexity distorts distance and elevation gain in trail and mountain running: The case for course measurement standardization.
Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part P, Journal of sports engineering and technology
Academic article
-
Twinomuhangi, Maximo Basheija;
Bamutaze, Yazidhi;
Kabenge, Isa;
Wanyama, Joshua;
Kizza, Michael;
Gabiri, Geoffrey;
Egli, Pascal Emanuel.
(2025)
Analysis of stationary and non-stationary hydrological extremes under a changing environment: A systematic review.
HydroResearch
Academic literature review
Teaching
Courses
- GEOG2020 - Geophysical and biological natural hazards
- GEOG2012 - Field and Laboratory Methods in Physical Geography
- GEOG1014 - Earth's Natural Environment
- GEOG3008 - Geography in Practice - Field and Research Design
- GEOG3527 - GIS Tools for Climate Change Studies
GEOG2020 - Geophysical and biological natural hazards (spring 2023)
GEOG2012 - Field methods in geomorphology (autumn 2023)
Contribution to "Resilience to climate risks" summer school in Kampala, Uganda, December 2024
Earlier courses:
Remote sensing and photogrammetry (UNIL, Switzerland, 2019-2022)
Methods in geomorphology field course (UNIL, Switzerland, 2017-2022)
River hydraulics course (UNIL, Switzerland, 2017-2022)
Seminar on reading, assessment & discussion of scientific articles in human and physical geography (UNIL, Switzerland 2016-2018)
Supervision
Supervision of Master’s and Bachelor’s theses (non-exhaustive)
● “The history of retreat of Glacier d’Otemma as reconstructed from historical aerial imagery”, Bsc thesis Céline Cardot, 2017
● “Mapping the glacier bed and potential locations of subglacial channels using densely spaced GPR surveys at Glacier d’Otemma”, Msc thesis Martino Sala, 2018
● “Quantification of ablation and ice dynamics of a patagonian glacier using SfM-MVS photogrammetry based on drone imagery”, Msc thesis Adeline Frossard, 2018
● “Quantification of ice dynamics at Glacier d’Otemma using dGPS measurements, ground-based LiDAR measurements and timelapse photography”, Bsc thesis Boris Ouvry, 2018
● “Quantification of melt and ice dynamics at Glacier d’Otemma using repeated high-resolution UAV-based SfM-MVS photogrammetry”, Bsc thesis Bruno Belotti, 2019.
● “Modeling paleo Ice-Dammed Lake in Tana, Northern Norway: A multimethod research approach to reconstruct a deglaciation chronology and series of lake stages from sediment records, Msc thesis Elise Hviding, 2024.
● Kvikkleireskred som konsekvens av elveerosjon (Quick clay slide as a consequence of river erosion): Ein simulasjonsbasert case om flaum i Nidelva, Bsc thesis Aneli Hovland Skaar, 2024.
● Naturbasert flomsikring i Kaldvella nedbørsfelt (Nature based flood protection in the Kaldvella catchment, Melhus, Norway), Bsc thesis Eline Grimsrud, 2024
● Rockfall simulations and risk assessment at Tjeldsnesfloget, Bsc thesis Vemund Schwensen Lindgren, 2024
● Glacial lake evolution and drainage at Storskavlen glacier in Aurland municipality, Msc thesis Jakob Ravlo Sand, 2024
Outreach
On glaciers and climate change - for the Athlete Climate Academy
Impact of climate change on rock slides in Norway
2025
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Conference posterEgli, Pascal Emanuel; Enzenhofer, Ursula; Lappe, Ronja; Hillisch, Lukas; Ayub, Gohar; Hussain, Zakir; Raza, Ghulam; Steiner, Jakob; Gong, Yongmei. (2025) Insights from fieldwork on surge-type glaciers with GLOF potential in Gilgit-Baltistan: preliminary results from UAV surveys, GPR surveys, and meteorological measurements. EGU General Assembly 2025
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Conference lectureLappe, Ronja; Enzenhofer, Ursula; Egli, Pascal Emanuel; Andreassen, Liss Marie; Calovi, Martina; Kääb, Andreas. (2025) Remote sensing capabilities of monitoring a periodically outbursting ice-dammed glacier lake: a case study at Nedre Demmevatnet, Hardangerjøkulen ice cap, Norway. Geofaredagen
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Feature articleAall, Carlo; Wilkerson, Brooke E; Sivertsen, Edvard; Brendehaug, Eivind Andre; Sandberg, Eli; Angell, Elisabeth; Wheeler, Emma Lea; Dannevig, Halvor; Lindberg, Helena Gonzales; Pontoppidan, Marie. (2025) Nå er det rasjonelt å planlegge ut ifra et verstefall-scenario.