Project 4.05: Changes in ice formation on Federal German waterways

"Dipl.-Geoökol. Marcus Hatz, BfG
Tel: +49 (0) 261/1306-5574, hatz@bafg.de

Dr-Ing. Thomas Maurer, BfG,
Department M2,
Tel. +49 (0) 261/1306-5242, thomas.maurer@bafg.de

Objectives

The ultimate objective of Project 4.05 „Changes in ice formation on Federal German waterways“ is the creation of a model that is suitable for assessing possible changes in the frequency, intensity, and duration of icing on navigable inland waterways.
To this end, process studies are analysing the development of ice on navigable waterways to design on this basis a numerical model that can describe the ice formation on canalized, impounded, and free-flowing inland waterways.
In detail, the following issues are examined under this project:

• Which processes play the dominating role in the ice formation on the different types of waterways (canals, impounded/free-flowing rivers) and which of these must be or can be simulated with view to the formulation of (a) climate projections and (b) operational forecasts/early warnings?
• Each simulation method requires calibration. To which extent is the quality and interpretation of the "measured" data in documentations of icing on waterways influenced by ice-breaking operations for the continuation of navigation and the discharge of industrial waste heat?
• How will icing on the different types of inland waterways become changed in the light of the projected climate change?

Main points of interest

To answer these question, the BfG has defined the following main points of interest:

• Compiling and evaluating data sets on historic events of icing (WSV ice-situation reports, historic information on extreme events) on all the rivers that are today Federal waterways.
• Comparison and evaluation of different approaches to the modelling of icing (for instance the BfG forecasting models for canals, BfG ice model for the River Elbe) and deriving a method for projections on future icing conditions on Federal waterways.
• Development of methods, implementation of software, and application of a model for projections on future icing conditions on Federal waterways that is based primarily on temperature data (cumulative freezing degree days).