Linking structure and functioning of hydrological systems - How to achieve necessary experimental and model complexity with adequate effort

This thesis quests after minimum adequacy of model complexity, geophysical exploration and functional unit identification through examples from the Attert experimental basin. With emphasis on a joined examination of theoretical concepts, experimental methodology and modelling approaches the study addresses landscape and process analysis, targeted experiments at the plot- and hillslope-scale and the development of a novel Lagrangian model framework for diffusive and advective soil water dynamics.