Projects

Asclimate change drives more frequent extreme weather events, groundwaterflooding poses an increasing threat to infrastructure and public safety. TheGrARBeKo project (Grundwasserüberschwemmungen: Entwicklung eines Ansatzes zurRisikobewertung und -kommunikation) addresses this challenge by developing arobust, data-driven methodology for risk assessment and public engagement.

Ledby Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), the project bringstogether key partners:

• Okeanos Smart Data Solutions GmbH (AI and hydroinformatics),
• Zentrum für Digitale Entwicklung GmbH (ZDE) (citizen participation and strategic communication),
• KI-P GmbH (sensor integration and data visualization), and
• the City of Garching, which contributes monitoring infrastructure and supports public outreach.

UsingGarching as a pilot site, GrARBeKo combines groundwater modeling (MODFLOW) withmachine learning techniques (ML) to generate rapid, high-resolution flood riskmaps. By involving citizens in the installation of low-cost sensors and thecollection of real-world data, such as water levels in basements, the projectstrengthens both the technical models and community awareness.

Theproject also aims to test innovative sensing technologies, improve uncertaintyquantification using Bayesian inference, and produce guidelines that can beadapted by other municipalities. In this way, GrARBeKo improves floodpreparedness locally while offering a scalable model for climate resilienceplanning.

Grundwasserüberschwemmungenkönnen schwere Schäden an Häusern, Versorgungseinrichtungen und Infrastrukturenverursachen und zu erheblichen wirtschaftlichen und soziale Kosten führen.Numerische Modelle werden eingesetzt, um diese Ereignisse zu verstehen, undbilden die Grundlage für die Erstellung von Produkten für das Risikomanagementund die Kommunikation. Im Gegensatz zu pluvialen und fluvialen Überschwemmungenist ein offenes Problem bei der Analyse der Anfälligkeit fürGrundwasserüberschwemmungen das Fehlen einer probabilistischen Bewertung, dieparametrische Unsicherheiten berücksichtigen. Daher schlagen wir einenBayes-basierten Rahmen vor, um probabilistische Risikokarten zu erstellen unddie Anfälligkeit für Grundwasserüberschwemmungen zu ermitteln.

Unsere Forschungsfragen sinddeshalb:

-       Ist es möglich die Ursachen vonGrundwasserüberschwemmungen zu identifizieren unter Berücksichtigung derUnsicherheiten von Modellparametern und verfügbaren Messungen?

-       Ist es möglich mittels der Modellergebnisse einFrühwarnsystem basierend auf Grundwassermessungen zu entwickeln und validieren?

-       Welche technischen Maßnahmen können das Risikovon Grundwasserüberschwemmungen reduzieren und mit welchen Sicherheitsgrad?

Diese Forschungsfragen werdenbeantwortet mit Hilfe der Daten, die für die Gemeinde Garching im Dezember 2023und Januar 2024 gesammelt wurden und der Messungen die im Projekt durchgeführtwerden.

Conceptual bucket models are widely used to predict spring discharge in karstic watersheds, while solute transport modeling still remains challenging. We hypothesize that a parallelized robust conceptualization of discharge and transport significantly improves the representation of hydrological processes in the different karst compartments, i.e. soil-epikarst, matrix and conduits systems. We will apply a multi-temporal scale calibration approach, i.e. waveletanalysis, to get a well-constrained discharge and solute Transport simulation and process representation. Using the experimental results of tailored event-based sampling campaigns, we will decompose time series of electrical conductivity with a high temporal resolution into themajor ions concentrations to determine relevant factors affecting transport processes in the different parts of karstic systems. Based on our findings, we will develop transport models of different complexities and validate those for multiple karst systems.

Geophysical flows are generally characterized by complex spatial and temporal dynamics, which often control solute spreading, dilution and reactive mixing. Inefficient mixing, typical of flows occurring at low Reynolds numbers, such as groundwater flows, may significantly decrease the effective reaction rate observed in the system. Mixing is particularly relevant for environmental pollution of groundwater bodies since it may hinder contaminant degradation. Considering mixing limited conditions, the topology of the flow field and kinematic processes such as stretching and folding occurring at multiple spatial and temporal scales play a pivotal role in the quantification and understanding of the fate and transport of contaminants. Our hypothesis in this project is that the dynamic interaction between surface water and groundwater is of pivotal importance to properly quantify mixing in porous aquifers. In particular, we aim at investigating how surface water management in Alpine catchments affected by strong anthropogenic impacts (i.e., hydropeaking generated by hydropower production) controls mixing processes at multiple temporal scales (subdaily, daily, weekly, seasonal) in aquifers. The project aims at developing and applying appropriate topological and kinematic metrics which can be used as predictors of mixing, at developing novel numerical approaches to solve inverse problems under such complex and transient conditions and at estimating parameter uncertainty. Beside numerical simulations, the methods developed in this project will be tested in a real case study, i.e., the Adige aquifer in Trento, Italy. The novelty of the proposed research lays in the investigation of i) the impact of surface water management in Alpine catchments on groundwater flow in alluvial aquifers (i.e, beyond the hyporheic zone); ii) the influence of highly transient interface transmission conditions on the topology of the two dimensional and three dimensional groundwater flow fields; iii) the development of accurate inversion numerical schemes for the solution of the flow equation under highly transient boundary conditions; iv) the quantification of the uncertainty related to model prediction considering both hydrogeological parameter uncertainty as well as the uncertainty affecting transient interface conditions.

Mixing of fluids is of primary importance in many fields of science and technology. Considering porous media, mixing processes are generally inefficient, but mixing enhancement can be potentially achieved by enhancing plume deformation through stretching and folding engineering the flow field using injection-extraction systems orin systems naturally displaying a complex transient dynamic such as the effect of tides. Previous studies have been performed at multiple scales (i.e. pore-scale, Darcy-scale, field and regional scale) mainly utilizing theoretical and modeling approaches, while experimental studies performed under controlled conditions are sparse. The proposed research aims at providing experimental evidence of the effects of chaotic advection on solute transport in saturated porous media under controlled laboratory conditions. The experimental work will be accompanied by the development of new advanced numericalmethods developed in the DUNE (Distributed Unified Numerics Environment) environment to perform an accurate model-based interpretation of the results. In addition, multi-parametric studies will also be performed in order to explore realistic scenarios which arebeyond the scope of laboratory experiments. This research project is innovative since it will investigate: 1) the effect of non-linear velocity dependence of dispersion and non-Fickian transport on chaotic advection; 2) the effect of incomplete mixing at the pore scale on the effective mixing enhancement due to chaotic advection; 3) the effectof the retardation and density effects affecting solute transport of chemically relevant species on the mixing enhancement achieved through chaotic advection; 4) the effect of chaotic advection on reactive processes. Moreover, we aim at providing a link betweenmetrics describing chaotic advection and mixing at the Darcy scale which is actually missing and it can be achieved using a model-based interpretation of the experimental results collected in this research project.

The Danube River Basin (DRB) host 79 million inhabitants. As the Danube River Management Plan indicates the majority (52%) of all rivers do not meet the criteria of good chemical status, moreover all monitored indicators deteriorated. The Danube River is an artery of the ecosystems of the whole DRB and the region with significant environmental impact. The river also has an important economic utilization supporting SMEs, and creating jobs for locals as well as having a cultural importance. To properly manage this complex and fragile ecosystem we must think of a river basin and harmonize our actions from the Black Forest to the Black Sea.
The project DALIA (Danube Region Water Lighthouse Action) is comprised of 22 expert organizations – including universities, authorities, SMEs and NGOs – from 8 different Danube EU and Associated countries accumulating an outstanding set of knowledge, covering not only the basin geographically but all different fields of expertise necessary to deal with the multidisciplinary issues from source to sea.
The project brings to DRB integrated DALIA tool, which will be integrated into DAnube Mission Hub for better decision making to improve DRB restoration of fresh and transitional water ecosystems. The project also provides options for strategies and policies that concern freshwater ecosystem protection and ecosystem connectivity in the DRB and improved protection of local communities and ecosystems from extreme events and pollution threats.
The DALIA project will contribute directly to the establishment of EU and UN initiatives, related to the further execution on the Water Framework Directive by the execution of innovative actions across a variety of geographies, their scaling and the multiplication of outcomes with a wider network of ecosystems and related EU Missions and project actions throughout framework.

More - Morfettenuntersuchungen

Investighations of water and CO2 including their isotope ratios in boreholes, springs and mofettes in the Eger Graben Czech republic

Predicting oxygen dynamics in large reservoirs in four dimensions.


Investigation of dissolved oxygen and its isotope ratios in drinking water reservoirs

Das Verbundprojekt wird im Zeitraum 2018-2023 durch das Bayerische Klimaforschungsnetzwerk (bayklif) gefördert.

The Mediterranean Basin is located in the transition zone between west wind drift and the subtropical high-pressure belt. As reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and others, the western Mediterranean is one of the most prominent climate change hotspots in Europe and also worldwide. Located within this area, Corsica in the western Mediterranean is a site that will be potentially affected largely by any climatic variations in the future. This makes it extremely important to improve our understating of the dynamics of the hydrologic cycle and water recharge at the island of Corsica. Ideal tools to study such processes are environmental tracers. This joint project will ideally combine analytical capabilities and scientific knowledge to receive a better understanding of the aquatic system and the driving processes. This will ultimately lead to a better knowledge about the water resources of the island and its role in the global carbon cycle.

Climate proxies such as tree rings rely on stable isotope ratios for the reconstruction of palaeoclimatic conditions. Such information then allow the calibration of models that evaluate and predict ongoing and future effects of global climate change. According to model predictions, the western Mediterranean is a region that will face severe climatic changes. Therefore, the island of Corsica in that region has been the target for palaeoclimate reconstructions by means of dendrochronology and stable isotopes. However, the oxygen stable isotope results from Corsican pines could not yet be interpreted satisfactorily. The oxygen stable isotope values (delta18O) of tree rings mainly depend on the oxygen isotope ratio of local precipitation and soil water. The precipitation delta18O values vary according to temperature, altitude and the moisture source area. Such parameters are determined nowadays rather precise but need to be assumed for the past. An important isotope effect is the so-called altitude effect that describes the relation of the delta18O value of precipitation and altitude. The large global network of isotopes in precipitation (GNIP) database of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) allows for a good regional estimate of isotope effects. However, things become more difficult in regions with high and steep mountain reliefs. Some latest publications suggest that the altitude gradient is absent in such regions during specific seasons. The reason for that observation could be seasonal height variations of the atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL). This isotope hydrology proposal is part of the project package CorsicArchive that also consists of interlinking proposals for climate, dendroisotopes and dendroecology. It is planned to install and regularly sample nine isotope precipitation samplers along an east-west altitudinal transect. This proposal will specifically explore the dynamics of the PBL and the isotope altitude effect. Additional questions relate to moisture source of air masses and the local moisture recycling within the islands hydrologic cycle. Furthermore, soil water and surface water analyses are planned to trace and quantify changes of the delta18O values along the pathway of water to the tree rings. The approach of this proposal aims to fill the gaps in the current knowledge of isotope hydrology of high reliefs and will finally lead to a more robust interpretation of related climate proxies in a climate change sensitive region. With respect to the current climate change, it is essential to understand climatic variations and its triggers in the past to better predict future changes.

Die Bedrohung durch Starkniederschlag und Hochwasser ist regelmäßig an deren Präsenz in den Medien zu erkennen. Bilder verheerender Verwüstungsszenarien, verursacht durch Überschwemmungsereignisse, verdeutlichen die Notwendigkeit eines effektiven Hochwasserschutzprogramms. Der Hochwasserschutz ist eine dauerhafte Verantwortung, auch wenn es sich um zeitlich begrenzte Ereignisse mit eventuell langen Ruheintervallen handelt. Des Weiteren ist in Hinblick auf den Klimawandel von einer zukünftig zunehmenden Frequenz der Starkregenereignisse auszugehen. Katastrophenvorsorge und Katastrophenmanagement werden daher an Relevanz gewinnen und in ihrer alltäglichen Präsenz zunehmen. Die Analyse der bei Hochwasserereignissen wirkenden Faktoren und die Entwicklung von Ansätzen zur Prävention bzw. Eindämmung sind eine zentrale Verantwortung der Forschung, insbesondere in den Geo- und Ingenieurswissenschaften.

Das Projekt „Starkregen-Überflutungs-Schutz in Kommunen (SÜS-Kom)“ beschäftigt sich mit der Lokalisierung und Prognose der durch Starkregen ausgelösten, oberflächigen Abflussströme in kleinen kommunalen Einzugsgebieten. Dabei sollen bereits vorliegende Datensätze zur Topologie und Hydrodynamik in Kombination mit neuen Datensätzen zu Bewuchs, Bodenbeschaffenheit und Versickerungsverhalten sowie Liegenschaftsdaten und aktuellen Wetterdaten für die Prognose zum Einsatz kommen. Im Anschluss soll eine Gefahrenreduzierung durch kostengünstige, nachhaltige und dezentrale Maßnahmen stattfinden.

Ziel des Projektes ist die Entwicklung einer Systemsoftware zur Identifizierung der von Starkregen gefährdeten Liegenschaften, für ein computergestütztes Anwendungs- und Kommunikationssystem auf kommunaler Ebene. Die Software soll an ein individuelles Warnsystem gekoppelt werden, welches betroffene Grundeigentümer und Gewerbebetriebe per Onlinedienst (SMS, Email, Mobile App) über mögliche Risiken informiert.

Investigations of the carbon cycle in river systems are important to outline interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. They also allow quantification of carbon fluxes to larger river systems and ultimately the ocean. This helps to constrain terrestrial carbon cycles that in turn have strong influences on the atmospheric CO2 through providing sources and sinks. Flux rates of carbon by rivers can also help to provide boundary parameters for climate models. In this context, rivers act as important integral information sources because they are key links between terrestrial systems and oceans. On the other hand, most rivers actively release considerable amounts of carbon to the atmosphere in the form of CO2. Nonetheless, its sources from soils, groundwater or river internal turnover are poorly defined. These aspects are planned to be investigated in small river systems of less than 12 m3 s-1 discharge in the Franconian Alb. Such small stream investigations holds promise to better quantify processes and mechanisms including geological, agricultural and urban influences on riverine carbon cycles. This work opens the opportunity to start biogeochemical investigations on the Main River System that is one of the major tributairies of the Rhine, one of the major waterways in Europe. It is placed in international context by allowing comparison to work on other river systems in various countries.

Im Rahmen des Paketantrages sollen alle Prozesse der Reliefveränderung in Gletschervorfeldern von den unterschiedlichen Teildisziplinen untersucht werden. Gletschervorfelder weisen seit dem Ende der „Kleinen Eiszeit“ und dem damit verbundenen starken Abschmelzen der Gletscher eine besondere Dynamik auf. Hauptziel dieses Forschungsantrages wird es sein, belastbare quantitative Angaben zu den momentan ablaufenden geotechnischen Prozessen an Massenbewegungen in Locker- und Festgesteinen im aktuellen Rückzugsbereich der Gletscher am Fallbeispiel Gepatsch im Alpenraum zu erarbeiten, um so Grundlagen für zukünftige Szenarien zu schaffen. Grundvoraussetzung einer Bilanzierung ist eine geotechnische Bestandsaufnahme. Ausgehend davon werden quantitative Aussagen zur Bilanz der Verlagerung durch Massenbewegungen in den Lockerund Festgesteinen erarbeitet. Untersucht werden soll sowohl das Langzeitverhalten, als auch das durch intensive meteorologische Ereignisse gesteuerte Kurzzeitverhalten. Im Rahmen des ersten Projektabschnitts wird ein Hauptaugenmerk auf spontane Massenbewegungen im Fels (Steinschlag und Felssturz), Lockergesteinsrutschungen und Kriechbewegungen in Talzuschüben zu legen sein. Eine flächendeckende Bilanzierung mit Hilfe des Airborne Laserscanning (ALS), ergänzt durch Terrestrisches Laserscanning (TLS) wird von den Projektpartnern beigetragen. Diese flächendeckenden Untersuchungen werden durch wiederholte stichprobenartige Bilanzierungen an repräsentativen Hangbewegungen geprüft und gegebenenfalls verifiziert.