BMBF: Drought early warning systems for carbonate aquifers (GRaCCe)

Carbonate aquifers are widespread throughout the Middle East and represent important water resources. Due to their high hydraulic conductivity, low storage coefficient, and thus low storage capacity, they are sensitive to droughts.

The volume of water stored in the water-unsaturated zone can be considerable, especially if thick vadose zones exist. As water shortages are becoming more and more frequent due to climate change, the understanding and prediction of droughts is becoming a more and more important.

Furthermore, a smart management of the water stored in the vadose zone can reduce the impact of dry periods on water resources, and thus the intensity of droughts.

The research project GRaCCE is focusing on the quantification and forecast of short and long-term droughts under Mediterranean climate. The project combines:

• hydrogeophysical measurements at a field site in Rüdersdorf (Brandenburg) to identify optimal monitoring techniques to quantify water fluxes in the unsaturated zone of karst aquifers
• large-scale numerical modelling of recharge and groundwater flow modeling and
• data assimilation methods to provide an integrated drought early warning system for the Western Mountain Aquifer located in Israel and the Palestinian territories.