1. Impact of dams on flood damage during the last decades in the Rhine river basin
- Author
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Speckhann, G., Nguyen, D., Merz, R., Kreibich, H., and Merz, B.
- Abstract
In many places worldwide, dams plays an important role in maintaining stability for societies by providing essential services such as drinking water, crop irrigation, energy production, and mitigating the impact of floods. Data-based and simulation studies have tried to attribute the impact of dams on downstream flood peaks, but the impact of dams on flood damage and risk remains weakly assessed. This study focusses on the most intensive dam construction period (1950-2002) in the Rhine river basins, one of the most regulated river basins in Germany. To understand the impacts of dams on flood damage, we have developed the Simple Basin Model (SBM) composed of a catchment model (HBV model) and a routing component based on the Streamflow and Synthesis & Reservoir Regulation (SSARR). In order to simulate dam operations, we have developed a dam module that activates water storage based on threshold levels of the hydrograph and releases water back to the river once the flood wave has passed. Flood damages are estimated by developing relationships between flood peaks and the associated damage. The Parameter Set Shuffling (PASS) is used to calibrate the catchment model using observed discharge data and catchment descriptors. The model chain is then used for estimating flood damages for the scenarios with and without dams. This research provides valuable insights into the impact of dams on flood damage and risk., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)
- Published
- 2023
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