Modeling of the Distribution and Risk Assessment of Pollutants in the Bitterfeld Floodplain – the SARISK Project
Large quantities of pollutants, such as heavy metals, arsenic and many organic substances were distributed on the floodplains during the extreme flood in 2002 in the Mulde catchment. The project aims to develop an integrated modeling and risk assessment tool to study i) floodplain topography, ii) flow direction, velocities and water depth in floodplains, iii) erosion, transport, and sedimentation of sediments, iv) behavior of different dissolved, suspended particulate pollutants and v) risk assessment of flooding scenarios. The information provided for different flooding scenarios will be compiled in tools to support decisions of local authorities.
The spread of pollutants is computed in an integrated system linking all relevant model components like a digital elevation model, hydraulics and sediment transport as well as the release, transport, transformation and deposition of pollutants. The joint project is subdivided into five work packages:
- Work package 1: Integrated Spatial Analysis with Laser scanning and multispectral Remote Sense Data (IRADA). The geomorphologic analysis of the Bitterfeld floodplain will result in a digital surface model (DSM) with high resolution. The unique challenge will be the development of a processing chain for urban areas with low surface gradients.
- Work package 2: Field Investigations of the Transport of Pollutants in the river Mulde. Measurements of seston and pollutant concentrations and their variation during floods.
- Work package 3: Hydrodynamic flow simulation in urban areas. Hydrodynamic flow simulation is one of the basic topics of model development. The transport of suspended matter (SPM), sedimentation and erosion processes as well as transport of pollutants depend on flow velocities, water depth and flow directions during flooding. Until now an area of about 50 km² was modelled with TELEMAC-2D.
- Work package 4: Modelling pollutant exposure. The interaction between flow dynamics and pollutant propagation will be analysed with the TELEMAC-modules Subief2D and wq2subief. Special consideration is focused on local sources of pollutants in the urban parts of the floodplain.
- Work package 5: Integrated Risk Assessment and Decision Support. Development of a model-based decision support system with focus on the immision of pollutant during extreme floods.
Co-ordination of the joint project
Dr. Wolf von Tümpling, Dr. Michael Rode
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Brückstraße 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany
+49 391 810 9300, +49 391 810 9650
wolf.vontuempling@ufz.de
michael.rode@ufz.de
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