Water shortage in Germany: Studies show alarming trends!

Water shortage in Germany: Studies show alarming trends!

Water availability in Germany is a central issue that is becoming increasingly important, especially in light of climate change. A current study by the University of Göttingen in collaboration with Mendel University sheds light on soil moisture in forests. The aim is to improve the assessment of soil moisture through systematic research, which is crucial for soil-friendly forest management.

The study examined soil moisture levels in a beech forest near Göttingen over a year. The research team compiled an impressive database of over 1.4 million individual measurements, which included both manual measurements at 236 points and automatic sensors at 53 locations. This was done in combination with ERA5 land remote sensing data, which proved to be a reliable complement to the field measurements.

New insights for forest management

The results of the study appear in the journalJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studiespublished show that weather and season have a greater influence on soil moisture than the exact location in the terrain. This finding is particularly relevant for climate-adapted forest management, as the ERA5 land data agree well with locally measured soil moisture values ​​and can be calibrated locally. Dr. Marian Schönauer emphasizes that the combination of systematic field data and satellite-based products is essential for effective water management.

In addition, as part of the Water Resources Information System Germany project ( WIS-D ) promoted the development of a national water information system. The project, which runs from February 2021 to January 2025, aims to provide information on water balance to better respond to crisis situations such as droughts. This system will provide daily data on water availability both on the land surface and in soil and groundwater.

The project team, led by Andreas Marx, includes numerous experts who want to work together to develop robust water balance information. This information is of great importance for companies and authorities in the water sector to ensure better management in more extreme weather situations.

Climate change and water availability

In the context of these research activities is also the project “Impact of climate change on water availability – adaptation to dryness and drought in Germany” ( WADKlim ) of the Federal Environment Agency. The aim of this project is to research the effects of drought and drought on the water supply and the soil water balance. The future development of water availability under the conditions of climate change is also analyzed.

The findings from WADKlim could provide important solution strategies for avoiding usage conflicts in water use in Germany. The development of measures to avoid conflicts in water use is considered essential to meet the growing challenge of changing water availability.

In summary, it can be said that the combination of innovative research, such as that carried out at the University of Göttingen, and broad-based projects such as WIS-D and WADKlim is crucial for future water availability in Germany. Only through well-founded data and strategic management can the challenges of climate change be met efficiently.