Rate My Professor Eliisa Lotsari

Lotsari's research focuses on fluvial processes, geoinformatics, remote sensing, hydro- and morphodynamic modelling, climate change impacts, physical geography, and water engineering, with particular emphasis on seasonally ice-covered rivers in northern latitudes. Her work examines river ice dynamics, near-bed flow turbulence under ice cover, riverbank erosion in freezing and thawing conditions, gravel transport by ice, and the conceptualization of digital twins for river basins. She leads projects such as CRIce: Changing River Ice, DefrostingRivers, and Törmäeroosion vaikutukset, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals on climate action and life on land. Lotsari has received the Academy of Finland Award 2021 for her excellent multidisciplinary approach to understanding changes in water systems and the Aalto Research Impact Award 2024 as part of the Digital Waters flagship team. Key publications include 'Annual heat budget and seasonal variations in a northern river with ice processes' (2026, Cold Regions Science and Technology), 'Near-Bed Flow Turbulence Beneath Ice Cover Under Varying Hydrological Conditions' (2026, Water Resources Research), 'Gravel transport by ice in a subarctic river from accurate laser scanning' (2015), 'Prospects and challenges of simulating river channel response to future climate change' (2015), and 'Blueprint conceptualization for a river basin's digital twin' (2025, Hydrology Research). Her research, cited over 1,950 times, advances the monitoring and modelling of high-latitude river systems amid environmental changes.