Jens Christian Refsgaard


Jens Christian Refsgaard is a hydrologist and academic. He is an emeritus professor at the Geological Survey of [Denmark and Greenland].
Refsgaard's research focuses on hydrological modelling, uncertainty analysis, and water resources.

Education

Refsgaard completed his Master's in Hydrology from the Technical University of Denmark in 1976. Later, he obtained a Doctorate in Natural Science from the University of Copenhagen in 2007.

Career

Refsgaard was appointed as an assistant professor Technical University of Denmark in 1978 before becoming an associate professor in 1982, and remained in that position until 1984. Simultaneously, he worked at the Danish Hydraulic Institute from 1980 to 2000. He was then a research professor at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland from 2000 to 2018 and has been an emeritus professor there since 2019.

Research

Refsgaard's research has focused on catchment modelling, good modelling practice, uncertainty assessment, and water resources. In catchment modelling, he has worked with physically based hydrological systems such as the MIKE SHE. His work has addressed model parametrization, calibration and validation, as well as comparative evaluation, and has also examined the methodological development of hydrological models. He has contributed to the formulation of guidance on good modelling practice to support appropriate and consistent model use.
In the area of uncertainty assessment of models, Refsgaard has studied approaches for identifying and analysing uncertainties. His publications have highlighted the implications of model structure error and strategies for addressing geological uncertainty in groundwater flow modelling. He has also outlined the modelling procedure and defined modelling uncertainty.
Beyond modelling, Refsgaard's research has examined groundwater–surface water interactions in Denmark through analyses of geomorphological, geological, and hydrological characteristics across multiple regional catchment types. His work has also discussed the accelerating impacts of climate change on the Baltic Sea, describing it as indicative of future coastal ocean conditions.

Awards and honors