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KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima

DirtX - Evaluating sediment Delivery Impacts on Reservoirs in changing climaTe and society aCROSS scales and sectors

Alternative title: Evaluering av sedimentleveranser Konsekvenser for reservoarer i endring av klima og samfunn på tvers av skalaer og sektorer

Awarded: NOK 4.0 mill.

Project Number:

300512

Application Type:

Project Period:

2019 - 2023

Funding received from:

The following activities where conducted in the second year of the project. Since this August 2021 we were free to travel and we used the time to conduct a first field trip and do measurement to calibrate our models. We were doing bathymetry, topography, and sediment sampling measurements. The campaign has been very successful and in WP1 we have now a full data set for our modeling work available. We used this data set to setup the model for the bed load investigations. In addition, we started working on WP2. WP2 is responsible for the evaluation of projected climate impacts (WP2 USTUTT) for three selected case study areas with a use of existing observations and impact models (e.g., WaSiM www.wasim.ch; HYPE, hypecode.smhi.se;). Climate impacts are evaluated (1) through determination of Climate Impact Indicators (CIIs) and (2) through targeted model experiments designed to evaluate uncertainties and the impact of the model setup on CIIs. Three types of CIIs will be developed: (i) primary, or climate-based CIIs that directly show changing climate, e.g., a change in average annual temperature, (ii) secondary, or catchment-based CIIs that show impact of changing climate on physical processes expressed as runoff or sediment loads, and (iii) tertiary, or socio-economic CIIs that show impact on economic sectors expressed e.g. as a change in the hydropower plant output. At the moment of the writing the report we are working on the preliminary secondary CIIs describing longterm changes relevant to local stakeholders. Then the full climate ensemble will be executed and processed to derive final secondary CIIs for all case studies. A typical longterm CII would be a change in the average flow, average load to the reservoir, or a reservoir sedimentation rate. Also, we conducted general assembly, project and work meeting in order to be connected and up to date with our project partners. Extraordinary workshops were conducted with partner project to identify synergies and possible collaboration topics. This is the H2020 project HYPOS and the NFR project STRIVAN. Many constructive proposals arouse and will be followed up later in common project proposals. We also participated at the IAHR Europe conference which was conducted digital. Our contribution was held in the special session on reservoir sedimentation which was organized by the IAHR workgroup on reservoir sedimentation which Nils Rüther is a member of.

Outcomes: • The project has enhanced our understanding of catchment processes, specifically focusing on sediment generation and transport dynamics within complex braided rivers. Moreover, our understanding of effective parameters for 2D morphodynamical modeling of a braided river is also enhanced. • DIRT-X has fostered increased interdisciplinary collaboration among project team members, bringing together experts from various fields such as flow and sediment hydraulic, hydrology, hydropower, remote sensing, water resource management, etc., to address the project's complex challenges. • One of the project's outcomes is the practical application of research findings to promote the sustainability of hydropower dams and regulated rivers. The findings have the potential to be applied by different user stakeholders, including public administration and companies, to inform decision-making and policy development. Impacts: • The long-term impacts of the project are expected to manifest in changes to policies and practices, particularly in the domains of catchment management, hydropower operations, and regulated river. • The findings emphasize the need for sustainable river management, taking into account both natural processes and human interventions, which is anticipated to influence the practices of reservoir and dam operations. • Through the publication of research papers, conference presentations, webinars, and scientific gatherings, the project's impacts will extend to the broader scientific community, fostering knowledge exchange and the advancement of the research field. In summary, the DIRT-X project has delivered valuable outcomes, enhancing our understanding, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and setting the stage for practical applications. In the future, we anticipate its impact on policies, its role in advancing sustainable river management, and its contribution to knowledge-sharing among different groups and sectors.

Thousands of large and smaller dams in Europe provide important but vulnerable services such as hydropower generation, flood protection, drinking water supply, irrigation and recreation. These services are threatened by changing climate and socioeconomic conditions through changes in the hydrological process and potentially increasing erosion and sedimentation of reservoirs. The project DIRT-X addresses the question of how such factors influence reservoirs and the services they provide to different economic sectors through integration of existing climate services (Copernicus Climate Change Service Climate Data Store, CDS, and Toolbox), Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), impact models, and close cooperation with stakeholders from the relevant sectors and across spatial scales and temporal scales. A special focus is given to energy sector. Hydropower already provides about 14% of the energy production in EU-28 with very high shares in countries like Norway, Sweden and Austria. Services of the reservoirs to the energy sector and water sector will become even more important with the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #7 “Affordable and clean energy” and #6 “Clean water and sanitation”. The integration of hydrological process modelling with economic models assessing water stress, cross-sectoral conflicts, and energy system enables investigation into the how hydrologic impacts are best translated into economic consequences and what are the implications of climate impacts within these systems. Furthermore, the project will improve models to assess interdependencies and economic value of water usage across sectors and their response to changes in runoff and water storage volumes. Theme 3 is supported indirectly through the evaluation of socioeconomic scenarios, incorporating SSPs and targeted model experiments and comparison of the outcomes with the long-term objectives in the Paris Agreement.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima