Hydrometeorological reconstruction of the 1824 flood event in the Neckar River basin (southwest Germany)

The integration of extreme historical floods in contemporary flood protection contributes towards improved risk management and safer handling of floods in the future. As a case study within the “Xfloods” project at the University of Freiburg (Germany), the discharges of the extreme flood in 1824 in the Neckar River basin (Baden-Württemberg/southwest Germany) were reconstructed using historical data. Quantitative and qualitative historical sources were applied to model the regional atmospheric circulation pattern, the weather conditions and the precipitation distribution associated with the event. Discharges were simulated using the water-balance model LARSIM (Large Area Runoff Simulation Model), the operational flood forecasting model in Baden-Württemberg. The developed methodology shows potential for wider use in assessing extreme historical floods and for application to contemporary flood management.