Too much and yet not enough water: smart management in times of hydrological extremes
Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E model, used with permission
The increasing intensity of floods, heat waves and droughts under global warming threatens health, lives, infrastructure, urban areas, agriculture, forestry and natural sites. These hydro-meteorological risks are among the major societal challenges of the 21st century, requiring collaborative interdisciplinary effort. The SynCom project HydroExtremes addresses this challenge by strengthening networks and pooling expertise in the Helmholtz Research Field Earth and Environment (E&E). The project synthesizes scientific knowledge and practical solutions along the entire process chain from meteorological conditions and hydrological changes to potential impacts of extreme events. It focuses on identifying knowledge gaps, dealing with uncertainties and methods based on AI/ML to improve forecasting and analyzing tools.
Effective management of flood risk, water availability, and heat stress further demands concerted solutions that address both water surplus and scarcity. This can only be achieved in a transdisciplinary way. SynCom organizes a stakeholder workshop to promote dialogue with practitioners to explore opportunities for co-design. In addition, SynCom coordinates a parliamentary event to discuss the need for action in the light of current extreme events.
Participating Helmholtz Centres
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (GFZ) German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ), Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon / Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
Lead Scientists
Prof. Dr. Harald Kunstmann (KIT), Prof. Dr. Peter Knippertz (KIT), Prof. Dr. Bruno Merz (GFZ), Prof. Dr. Heidi Kreibich (GFZ), Prof. Dr. Christian Kuhlicke (UFZ), Prof. Dr. Stefan Kollet (FZJ)
Synthesis Workshop
The synthesis workshop will take place on 10 and 11 March 2025 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). If you are interested, please get in touch with the contact persons.
Contact
Dr. Susanna Mohr: susanna.mohr@kit.edu, Dr. Ulrike Scherer: ulrike.scherer@kit.edu