Model-based assessment of climate change impact on inland flood risk at the German North Sea coast caused by compounding storm tide and precipitation events

Abstract

In addition to storm tides, inland flooding due to intense rainfall has become an increasing threat at coastal lowlands. In particular, the coincidence of both types of events poses great challenges to regional water boards since their technical drainage capacities are limited. In this study, we analysed historical data and scenario-based simulations for gauge Knock near Emden at the German North Sea coast. The evaluation of observed inland flood events shows that mainly moderate storm tide series in combination with large-scale, intense precipitation led to an overload of inland drainage systems, whereas the highest individual storm tides or precipitation events alone could be handled well. Proactive risk management requires climate projections for the future. Therefore, a hydrological and a hydrodynamic ocean model were set up and driven by the same climate simulations to estimate future drainage system overloads. The evaluation of the simulations for the control period of two climate models confirms that the models can reproduce the generation mechanism of the compound events. The coincidence of storm tides and precipitation leads to the highest drainage system overloads, while system overload is also caused by intense rainfall events alone rather than by storm tides without intense precipitation. Scenario projections based on two climate models and two emission scenarios suggest that the intensity of compound events of rainfall and storm tides will increase consistently against the background of mean sea level rise for all investigated climate projections, while simulated system overload is higher for the RCP8.5 scenario compared to the RCP2.6 scenario. Comparable to the past, future compound events will cause more potential damage compared to single extreme events. The model results indicate an increasing frequency and intensity of inland drainage system overloads along the North Sea coast if timely adaptation measures are not taken.