IMHC-Pilot

Abstract:

Models describing components of the hydrological cycle on the regional and local scale are strongly determined by the detailed knowledge of boundary conditions (e.g., rainfall, temperature, wind, or radiation).
Little direct measurements of these boundary conditions exist and measurement stations do not always deliver the ideal driving data hydrological models. In a changing climate, a further restriction of observation-driven models is that they cannot be directly used to simulate future scenarios. Generally, atmosphere-hydrosphere-cryosphere
feedback mechanisms are neglected in such models. The main objective of this project is to set up a coupled atmosphere – hydrological model system to overcome the problems described above. The atmospheric part will be represented by a regional climate model, the German community model CCLM (Böhm et al, 2006) and the local scale hydrological component will be exemplified by one glacier mass balance and run off model applied for the Hintereisferner in Ötztal Alps, and one integrated hydrological model applied in the Mur catchment in Styria. The primary focus will be on optimizing the interface between these models and on setting up an integrated model framework controlling these interfaces. In the first phase coupling will be realised via a pure one-way interface (the output of the climate model drives the hydrological model), but transforming the ideas of global earth system modelling to the regional and local scales, the framework of the integrated model system will be implemented in a much more flexible and comprehensive way that allows two way interfaces (feedbacks) and the addition of further model components and observational datasets at a later stage. This model framework will set the basis for next-generation integrated climate-hydrology simulations at the regional to local scale.