Adapting the German transport system to climate change and extreme weather events – First case study results connected to extreme precipitation

A well developed, functional transport infrastructure that offers unrestricted use is of great importance for Germany as a transport nation in the centre of Europe. To address recent challenges like climate change and extreme weather events and to act towards a resilient transport system, knowledge and abilities available in German agencies are combined in a 'Network of Experts' under the umbrella of the German Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Thereby, the transfer of knowledge and technology across disciplines is promoted and the dialogue between experts in the areas of science, politics, administration and economy is fostered. This contribution introduces the structure of the network and presents first results connected to precipitation extremes. Using the case study of the December 2014 flood in Schleswig Holstein the performance of precipitation indices for the evaluation of flooding events is presented. Future increases in the frequency of heavy precipitation in winter are posing potential risks to land based infrastructures and may limit shipping. These results are confirmed by hydrological modelling, where an increasing number of days above a flood threshold and a decreasing number of days below a low-flow threshold are simulated for an ensemble of climate projections at the gauge of Kaub/Rhine. The analyses provide a first basis for the development of approaches to impact assessment for road, rail and waterway transport.