1 Integrated research on the hydrological process dynamics from the

The “Wilde Gera ” is an interflow and snow melt dominated highland headwater catchment in the Thuringian Forest in eastern Germany. Inside the basin the scientific test sites “Schmücker Graben” and “Steinbach ” are located in which hydrological research is carried out since more than forty years. Due to the long ranging research a comprehensive amount of data for hydrological system analysis, process research is available and was used for hydrological modelling with various models in the last ten years. These modelling results revealed important insights into the runoff generation processes, which have been further investigated and validated with the help of the distributed hydrological modelling system J2000 recently. The model was applied in different spatial resolution to investigate the influence on model performance as well as on data, parameter and conceptual uncertainties and sensitivities. J2000 was calibrated with discharge time series at the basin’s outlet, and multi response validation was car-ried out by means of time series from recording gauges inside the catchment and additional hydro-meteorological data sets, e.g. snow water equivalent and groundwater levels. The findings under-pinned the dominant importance of the fast subsurface runoff component for the catchment’s runoff generation. They, however clearly indicated the importance of research issues concerning the control-ling function of periglacial hillslope sediments and their internal structure on the hydrological process dynamics still unresolved in a regional context. The paper is presenting first results from this research effort and the application of the J2000 hydro-logical modelling system. Special emphasis will be given on model and parameter uncertainties and the definition of interdisciplinary research interfaces for a better understanding of the hydro-geomorphic process dynamics controlling the runoff generation in highland headwater catchments.