Hannu Marttila

Professor Hannu Marttila leads the Hydrology and Water Quality Research Group at the Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit at the University of Oulu. He is an expert in catchment hydrology and water quality, with a particular focus on hydrological processes in northern and Arctic regions, peatlands and aquatic environments, as well as the impacts of land use and climate change on water systems.

His research aims to understand how climate change, land use and ecosystem restoration affect the water cycle, water quality and ecosystem functioning in northern environments. Marttila’s research combines long-term environmental observations, catchment and river studies, the use of stable water isotopes, remote sensing, digital monitoring and modelling. His key research topics include peatlands, forested and agricultural catchments, snow and cold-climate hydrology, river processes, catchment restoration and the management of nutrient and sediment loading into aquatic ecosystems.

Marttila plays a key role in the development of water research nationally and internationally. He serves as Vice-Principal Investigator for the University of Oulu within the Digital Waters (DIWA) Flagship and leads its Research Theme 1, which focuses on hydrosphere processes. He also leads the UArctic ArcticWater Network and is a member of the Finnish Water Panel and the EASAC expert working group addressing water-related issues. Through these roles, he promotes the use of scientific knowledge in decision-making and contributes to the development of national, Arctic and European water policy and research collaboration.

Marttila is also a member of the steering group of the University of Oulu’s SAFIRE Profiling 8 programme and a member of the university’s Doctoral Education Committee. In addition, he is a founding member of the Freshwater Competence Centre and a member of the Supervisory Council of the Foundation for Agricultural Drainage. He has previously served as Hydrology Subject Editor for the journal Boreal Environment Research and as Chair of the Hydrology Division of the Finnish Water Association from 2012 to 2022.

Marttila has led and coordinated several major national and international research projects. His research has been funded by organisations including the Research Council of Finland, the European Union’s research and LIFE programmes, NordForsk, Finnish ministries and private foundations.