BROOK90 Water Balance Model: Workshop in Tharandt

On October 1 and 2, a workshop on the BROOK90 water balance model was held in Tharandt. The event was jointly organized and conducted by the Chair of Meteorology, the Chair of Groundwater Management, and the Chair of Forest Sites and Water Balance. Experts from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany participated in the hybrid workshop. The focus was on questions regarding model development, future development prospects, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various model versions. In addition, new application possibilities were discussed that go beyond the model’s current areas of use and offer potential for addressing further scientific questions.

© I. Vorobevskii

These include, in particular, the modeling of isotope and water flows between the individual components of the soil-plant-atmosphere system, as well as a more nuanced analysis of evaporation processes, particularly transpiration. Another central topic was the question of how much water is available in a watershed under changing climatic conditions. Particular attention was paid to the effects of climate change on the water balance and water availability during severe droughts. The workshop provided a valuable platform for scientific exchange, discussion of current challenges, and the development of new research approaches. Overall, the event was a great success.

The workshop proceedings have been published in a collection and are freely accessible.