FLOW LAB

At the FLOW Lab, we study how water interacts with physical and biogeochemical flows across Earth's systems.Our research informs solutions for water management, environmental engineering, and climate change mitigation.

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Research

Our research explores how water interacts with physical and biogeochemical flows across Earth’s systems, connecting land, water, and air.Examples include water controls on rock weathering, on sources and sinks of atmospheric gases, and on the transport of biogeochemical elements.Our strength lies in combining advanced modeling with field and experimental studies, to uncover and predict the flows and their hydrological controls.The goal is to advance scientific knowledge and translate this into actionable insights for environmental and climate mitigation solutions.

Enhanced Weathering for Climate Change Mitigation

Enhanced Weathering (EW) is a nature-based strategy for climate mitigation that involves spreading finely ground silicate rocks on agricultural and forest soils. The rock dissolution removes atmospheric CO₂ in water, which is then ideally transported by the hydrological cycle to the ocean for long-term carbon sequestration.Although theoretically promising, many open questions remain on the real EW efficiency in stably removing carbon from the atmosphere and mitigating climate change. The largest uncertainties relate to the rock weathering rates in soils and the fate of the weathering products across the hydrological transport from soil to sea.To address these issues, we integrate process-based modeling (including our model SMEW), large-scale experiments, and field datasets from international collaborations. The goal is to advance the scientific understanding of EW to assess its real carbon removal potential as well as potential co-benefits and side effects.

Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison with Experimental Data
Bertagni et al., JAMES, 2025 (DOI)Carbon capture efficiency of natural water alkalinization: Implications for Enhanced Weathering
Bertagni & Porporato, STOTEN, 2022 (DOI)Nano- to Global-Scale Uncertainties in Terrestrial Enhanced Weathering
Calabrese, Wild, Bertagni et al., ES&T, 2022 (DOI)

Geomorphological Patterns Shaped by Water

Our lab explores how water flow shapes patterns across Earth’s surface — from the graceful meanders of rivers and the delicate growth of cave speleothems to the vast forms of glacial and mountain landscapes.Multiple reasons lie behind this research: the beauty of these forms, the curiosity to understand the fundamental processes behind them, and the practical need to address engineering and environmental challenges. The questions we address span from the theoretical realm — Why does water shape similar patterns on rock and ice? Why do fluvial landscapes display self-similarity across scales? — to environmental engineering challenges — How do we renaturalize a river? How will deglaticing basins impact mountain environments?To tackle these challenges, we combine observations with process-based models and advanced theoretical approaches, including dynamical systems theory, stability analysis, and stochastic modeling. The goal is to advance the understanding of Earth’s systems and their complex, and often nonlinear, interactions.

Emergent Self-Similarity in Erosion-Dominated Landscapes
Anand, Bertagni et al., PNAS, 2023 (DOI)The hydrodynamic genesis of linear karren patterns
Bertagni et al., JFM, 2021 (DOI)Parametric transition between bare and vegetated states in water-driven patterns
Bertagni et al., PNAS, 2018 (DOI)

Biogeochemical Cycles During The Energy Transition

The decarbonization of the energy sector is essential to limit global warming. For hard-to-abate sectors and energy storage, low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen (H₂) and ammonia (NH₃) hold great promise. Yet deploying these fuels also involves trade-offs that must be carefully managed to secure their environmental and climate benefits.Unwanted emissions of hydrogen impact atmospheric chemistry, increasing the concentration of powerful greenhouses gases such as methane (CH₄) and ozone (O₃). This gives H₂ a strong indirect greenhouse effect, which is mitigated by bacteria in soils that remove H₂ from the atmosphere (80% of global removal) based on soil moisture conditions.Using NH₃ as a H₂ carrier brings further risks, as leakages and combustion can release harmful pollutants (NOx) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more powerful than CO₂. The success of the hydrogen and ammonia economies hence hinges on best production and use practices.By combining process-based modeling with observations, we aim to advance understanding of these hydro-biogeochemical interactions and provide science-based evidence to minimize trade-offs and maximize the climate benefits of low-carbon fuels.

Minimizing the Impacts of the Ammonia Economy on the Nitrogen Cycle and Climate
Bertagni et al., PNAS, 2023 (DOI)Risk of the Hydrogen Economy for Atmospheric Methane
Bertagni et al., Nat. Comm., 2022 (DOI)Moisture Fluctuations Modulate Abiotic and Biotic Limitations of H₂ Soil Uptake
Bertagni et al., Glob. Biogeoch. Cycles, 2021 (DOI)

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Team

Matteo B. Bertagni
Assistant Professor

• Email
• CV
• ORCID
• ResearchGate
• Google Scholar

Environmental engineer and nature enthusiast, he obtained his PhD in 2019 at Politecnico di Torino, studying water-driven pattern formation in rivers, caves, and glaciers.From 2020 to 2024, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) at Princeton University, working on climate change mitigation.Grounded in water and Earth system science, his research investigates how biogeophysical interactions and feedback govern mass and energy flows across Earth’s systems.Outside of academia, he enjoys alpinism, gardening, and chess.

Flavia Marini
PhD student

FLOWS: sediment, water, energy

Environmental engineer, she studies sediment transport dynamics in glacier-fed streams.Her work spans geomorphology, hydrology, and Earth surface processes, combining field measurements, models, and seismic monitoring with geophones – seismic sensors capable of detecting sediment movement.The goal is to understand how hydroclimatic variability influences sediment flows in deglaciating basins and to develop methods for assessing hydrogeological risks in mountain catchment areas.Outside academia, she enjoys ski mountaineering, climbing, sailing, running, plants, and singing.

Co-advised with Prof. Camporeale (PoliTO) and Prof. Comiti (Univ. Padova)

Fabiola Cannizzaro
PhD student

FLOWS: water, biogeochemical elements

Environmental engineer, her research lies at the intersection of water science and biogeochemistry, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation.She studies soil–water interactions, exploring the hydrological cycle and its connections with biogeochemical processes. Her work spans two projects: advancing the understanding of artificial wetlands in water treatment and assessing enhanced weathering as a strategy for carbon dioxide removal.Outside academia, she enjoys spending time in nature and is passionate about history and politics.

Co-advised with Prof. Boano (PoliTO) and Eng. Costamagna (PoliTO)

Main Collaborators

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Publications

Complete publication list:

• Google Scholar
• ORCID
• ResearchGate

Our latest publications:

Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison with Experimental Data
Bertagni et al., JAMES, 2025 (DOI)

Unexpected Transient Dynamics of Meandering Rivers with Unsteady Flows
Bassani, Bertagni et al., GRL, 2024 (DOI)

A Dimensionless Framework for the Partitioning of Fluvial Inorganic Carbon
Bertagni et al., GRL, 2024 (DOI)

The Water Footprint of Hydrogen Production
Olaitan, Bertagni et al., STOTEN, 2024 (DOI)

Reanalysis of NOAA GML H₂ Observations: Implications for the H₂ Budget
Paulot, Petron, Crotell, & Bertagni, Atm. Chem. & Phys., 2024 (DOI)

Products:

SOIL MODEL FOR ENHANCED WEATHERING (SMEW)
Ecohydrological and biogeochemical model of enhanced weathering in the soil’s upper layer. SMEW accounts for hydroclimatic variability and the soil processes represented below. Open-access on Github.

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Outreach

We love advancing scientific knowledge to better understand Earth’s systems, but our mission goes further. We want to inspire and guide the transition toward a sustainable future by sharing our knowledge with society, from governments and industry to the younger generations.

Ammonia Energy: A Call for Environmental Awareness

Ammonia (NH₃) offers a carbon-free fuel option, yet it carries risks for the nitrogen cycle and the climate. Read our Sciencebreaker article

Switching to hydrogen fuel could prolong the methane problem

Methane-based hydrogen production and hydrogen leakages could worsen the atmospheric methane concentration. Read our Princeton Engineering interview.

The Art of Rivers

Award-winning (Giovedìscienza) presentation blending science and art to ask: Can we bring rivers back to their natural shape?

How do we study Nature?

A conversation on the delicate balance of Earth’s systems and the quest for a sustainable future, invited by APS Chirone.

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Teaching

Fluid Mechanics
Undergraduate course (ita) in Mechanical Engineering
Course Details

Past Courses

Fundamentals of Environmental Geosciences
Master course (eng) in Energy Engineering at PoliTO

Ecohydrology
Graduate course in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University

Hydraulics
Undergraduate course in Civil and Environmental Engineering at PoliTO

River Engineering (TA)
Master course in Civil Engineering at PoliTO

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Join the Lab: Go With the Flow

Even if you don't see an open position listed, we'd love to hear from you. We are always on the lookout for motivated and talented scientists excited to make a significant impact in water and climate change research.While based in an environmental engineering department, we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including physics, mathematics, chemistry, earth sciences, and computer science.

PhD students

PhD positions open twice a year (spring → start in Nov; autumn → start in Mar). Prospective candidates with an excellent academic record should email the PI with a CV and a short paragraph outlining their motivation, background and research interests in relation to the lab work.

Postdocs

Postdoc positions are advertised when available, but candidates with a relevant research background and motivation to pursue external funding (e.g., Marie Sklodowska-Curie) are welcome to email the PI with a CV and a brief statement of interest.

Undergraduate Students

Bachelor's and Master's students interested in a research thesis are invited to contact the PI with a short motivational note.

Flow Lab
Department of Environment, Land, and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI)
Politecnico of Torino (website)
[email protected]

Background: Adobe Stock

Carlo Camporeale, Politecnico di Torino
Luca Ridolfi, Politecnico di Torino
Fulvio Boano, Politecnico di Torino
Amilcare Porporato, Princeton University
Robert Socolow (Emeritus), Princeton University
Fabien Paulot, NOAA GFDL
Xavier Duplat, ETH Zürich
Paolo Perona, EPFL
Francesca Bassani, EPFL
Salvatore Calabrese, Texas A&M University
Shashank Anand, Texas A&M University
Pierre Regnier, Université Libre de Bruxelles

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