GRK 1829:  Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling

• Subject Area: Water Research
• Term: from 2012 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 202806055

Groundwater is the most important source of drinking water worldwide. Its quantity and quality is threatened, e.g. by unsustainable use, diffuse input of pollutants, and anthropogenic changes of biogeochemical conditions. Groundwater protection requires considering the coupled hydrosystem on the catchment scale, including atmospheric and land-surface processes, surface-water bodies, and processes in the subsurface. The related process descriptions are uncertain; are affected by heterogeneity, and undergo change. Sustainable management of groundwater resources under changes in climate and land use requires predictive models. While models of coupled hydrosystems using partial differential equations start to get applied in quantitative water resources management, the applicability of spatially fully explicit, multicompartment, multi-component reactive transport models on the catchment scale may be doubted. The appropriate concepts to address transport of reactive components on larger scales, affected by uncertainty and heterogeneity are a timely topic of hydrological and biogeochemical research. Likewise, it is an open debate how hydrology-vegetation feedbacks and feedbacks between hydrology and landscape evolution are conceptually addressed best in models. The key objectives of the Research Training Group ¿Integrated Hydrosystem Modelling¿ are to (a) bring together specialists in all sub-disciplines relevant for integrated assessment and modelling of coupled hydrosystems, located at the Universities of Tübingen, Hohenheim, Stuttgart, and at Canadian partner universities, (b) collaboratively train graduate students in the underlying hydrological and (biogeo)chemical processes and their modelling at regional scales, and (c) to advance modelling tools to be used for an improved understanding of the processes that control water quality on the catchment scale, accounting for internal heterogeneity and changes in forcings. The research is organised in four themes: A: Flux balances at the land surface, B: Biogeochemical reactions in catchments, C: Model legitimacy and uncertainty assessment of large-scale models, and D: Evolution of catchments. The qualification programme includes (i) cross-institutional supervision of graduate students, (ii) mandatory research and training stays at the partner institutions, (iii) joint spring/fall schools, (iv) participation in structured doctoral programs, and (v) development of soft skills to improve employability after graduation.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Co-Applicant Institution: Universität Hohenheim; Universität Stuttgart
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Olaf A. Cirpka
• Participating Researchers: Andreas Behrendt, Ph.D.; Oliver Branch, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Todd Alan Ehlers; Dr. Michael Finkel; Dr. Sebastian Gayler; Professor Dr. Peter Grathwohl; Professor Dr. Stefan Haderlein; Dr.-Ing. Claus Haslauer; Dr.-Ing. Chuanhe Lu, Ph.D.; Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Nowak; Professor Dr. Holger Pagel; Dr. Marc Schwientek; Professor Dr. Thilo Streck; Professorin Dr. Katja Tielbörger; Professor Dr. Volker Wulfmeyer; Professorin Dr. Christiane Zarfl