Research

Research Photos: André
Künzelmann
(UFZ),
Elisabeth
Krüger (UFZ),
Marc Walther
(TUD,UFZ)

A comprehensive assessment of the resource water with all of its interactions in complex environmental systems is the main goal of the CAWR. The research agenda ranges from fundamental to applied research and covers the fields of natural, engineering, social and economic sciences. The CAWR scientists focus on the following thematic priorities:


  • They analyse interdependencies in natural and anthropogenically impacted hydrosystems, particularly regulation mechanisms and the impact of human activities

  • They develop status targets and management strategies for the sustainable use of anthropogenically impacted hydrosystems, and determine risks and indicators for critical trends

  • Faced with processes of change, uncertainties and high complexity they make use of projections and scenarios in order to better understand and control hydrosystems

  • In order to analyse complex hydrosystems and optimize decision making processes, they develop tools such as models, visualization techniques and innovative monitoring concepts


The scientists work on these thematic priorities in six thematic-methodic fields:

  1. Thematic Field 1: Quality in the water cycle
    Understanding processes: water cycle and water quality

  2. Thematic Field 2: Water quantity and scarcity in the regional context
    Management of sustainable resources particularly in water scarce regions

  3. Thematic Field 3: Urban Water Systems
    Processes and dynamics of matter fluxes in the urban system

  4. Thematic Field 4: Methods of data collection and information processing
    Monitoring, modelling of processes and data

  5. Thematic Field 5: Societal and climate change
    Regional transformation strategies and scenarios

  6. Thematic Field 6: Water governance
    Management targets, obstacles, strategies and instruments