DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14002254
title: 3D thermohydraulic model for Berlin's Urban Subsurface
title: 3D Model of coupled heat and fluid transport below Berlin (FeFlow)
title: Deep Thermohydraulic Feflow Model of Berlin
title: Thermohydraulisches 3D-Modell für den urbanen Untergrund Berlins

description: Abstract

We present the data and methodology behind Model 2—a 3D thermohydraulic model of the Berlin subsurface that incorporates open boundary conditions to represent regional groundwater flow. This model covers the aquifer systems within the Northeast German Basin and simulates groundwater dynamics over an area of approximately 450 km². It was developed to examine the impact of regional flow on groundwater interactions and potential contamination risks for Berlin’s water supply, Model 2 differs from previous models by integrating cross-boundary flow and pressure influences.

The dataset, in the form of a FEFLOW file (.fem), depicts the 3D distribution of geological units in the subsurface up to a depth of 6 km. It includes thermal and hydraulic boundary conditions as well as the parameter ranges used in Frick et al., 2019. The model focuses particularly on the Rupelian clay layer, which partially separates fresh and saline aquifers. Model results indicate how regional flow affects inter-aquifer exchange, potentially amplifying the risk of saline intrusion into freshwater zones under anthropogenic stress. This dataset is particularly relevant for applications in groundwater management and urban water resource planning. Technical specifications of the model’s structure and parameterization are provided in the Technical Information section and Frick et. al., (2019).This dataset relates to several studies done in the past, focusing on the urban subsurface of Berlin: Frick et. al., (2018, 2019, 2020); Frick (2019), Haacke et al., (2018).

Model Area

in Model CRS (EPSG: 31468, DHDN / 3-Degree Gauss-Kruger zone 4):X: 4571450 to 4624450Y: 5800300 to 5843000

Methods

To develop the 3D Model 2 for groundwater dynamics in Berlin’s subsurface, we used the software FEFLOW© (DHI-WASY) to integrate geological and hydrogeological data across 21 geological layers, which represent both shallow freshwater and deep saline aquifers in the Northeast German Basin. The model construction relied on data from hydrogeological maps, well logs, and prior structural models, particularly the Haacke et al. (2018) model, which provided detailed information on regional aquitards and aquifers. 

To accommodate the open boundary conditions, we applied fixed hydraulic heads and temperatures at the model’s lateral boundaries. The temperatures were used from modeling results presented in Haacke et al., (2018). The hydraulic boundary conditions were derived by projecting the surface hydraulic heads downwards, therefore allowing cross-boundary flow. The upper boundary condition was set to reflect local measured hydraulic heads and surface water features, including lakes and rivers. The bottom of the model represents the depth limit of groundwater flow relevance in Berlin, approximately 6 km below the surface. Here, no flow is expected and hence no hydraulic boundary condition defined. 

Model discretization was performed in FEFLOW©, where we created a finite element mesh with an average horizontal resolution of 20 m × 20 m, and refined locally near production wells and surface water bodies. Vertically, the model was subdivided into 57 computational layers to ensure a better horizontal to vertical ratio of the mesh elements. Hydraulic properties were assigned based on lithology, using anisotropic values where vertical conductivity (κz) was set lower than horizontal conductivity (κx,y), in alignment with the aquifer and aquitard characteristics (see also Frick et al., (2019)).

Transient simulations were initialized by first calculating the model to a steady-state condition, representing pre-pumping groundwater dynamics. For each simulation, pumping wells were introduced as point sinks with variable rates, replicating the distribution and intensity of groundwater extraction in Berlin over a 100-year period. These scenarios allowed us to observe changes in inter-aquifer flow, particularly near regions of thinned Rupelian clay, where saline intrusion into freshwater zones was most probable.

Further methodological details on model parameterization and boundary conditions can be found in Frick et al., (2019).

Technical Information

We provide a single FEFLOW© file which incorporates all elevation distributions of the different geological layers (see table below for key), the hydraulic and thermal boundary conditions and the hydraulic and thermal properties of the model units. Pumping rates and wells were deleted due to the sensitivity of the data. 

3D structural modelling was primarily done in Petrel (© Schlumberger). Modelled unit thicknesses might slightly vary to the ones which can be derived from Frick et al., 2020, due to the fact that a structured mesh was used. Here, a minimum thickness of 0.1m was used in areas where any of the modelled units showed a thickness of 0m.

The model layers are as follows:




ID
Name


1
Colmation Layer  


2
Holocene Weichsel  


3
Holocene Weichsel  


4
Saale  


5
Saale  


6
Holstein  


7
Holstein  


8
Elster  


9
Elster  


10
Miocene  


11
Miocene  


12
Cottbus  


13
Cottbus  


14
Rupelian  


15
Rupelian  


16
Rupelian  


17
Pre-Rupelian  


18
Pre-Rupelian  


19
Pre-Rupelian  


20
Pre-Rupelian  


21
Upper Cretaceous  


22
Upper Cretaceous  


23
Upper Cretaceous  


24
Lower Cretaceous  


25
Lower Cretaceous  


26
Jurassic  


27
Jurassic  


28
Jurassic  


29
Jurassic  


30
Keuper  


31
Keuper  


32
Keuper  


33
Muschelkalk  


34
Muschelkalk  


35
Muschelkalk  


36
Upper Buntsandstein  


37
Upper Buntsandstein  


38
Middle Buntsandstein  


39
Middle Buntsandstein  


40
Lower Buntsandstein  


41
Lower Buntsandstein  


42
Lower Buntsandstein  


43
Zechstein  


44
Zechstein  


45
Zechstein  


46
Zechstein  


47
Zechstein  


48
Rotliegend  


49
Rotliegend  


50
Permocarboniferous  


51
Permocarboniferous  


52
Permocarboniferous  


53
Permocarboniferous  


54
Basement  


55
Basement  


56
Basement  


57
Basement  




Table 1. Layers of the 3D Model

Related works



Frick, M., Bott [Sippel], J., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Cacace, M., Haacke, N., Schneider, M., 2020. 3D geological model of Berlin - Germany. https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.4.5.2020.005

Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Cacace, M., Schneider, M., 2019. Boundary condition control on inter-aquifer flow in the subsurface of Berlin (Germany) – new insights from 3-D numerical modelling, in: Advances in Geosciences. Presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2019, EGU Division Energy, Resources & Environment (ERE) - EGU General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 7&ndash;12 April 2019, Copernicus GmbH, pp. 9–18. https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-9-2019

Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Schneider, M., Cacace, M., 2018. Surface to groundwater interactions beneath the city of Berlin - Results from 3D models. Geofluids In Press.

Haacke, N., Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Schneider, M., Cacace, M., 2018. 3-D Simulations of Groundwater Utilization in an Urban Catchment of Berlin, Germany. Advances in Geosciences 45, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-45-177-2018





Frick, M., 2019. Towards a more sustainable utilization of the urban geological subsurface: Insights from 3D thermohydraulic models (PhD Thesis). FU Berlin, Berlin.



References



Frick, M., Bott [Sippel], J., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Cacace, M., Haacke, N., Schneider, M., 2020. 3D geological model of Berlin - Germany. https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.4.5.2020.005

Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Cacace, M., Schneider, M., 2019. Boundary condition control on inter-aquifer flow in the subsurface of Berlin (Germany) – new insights from 3-D numerical modelling, in: Advances in Geosciences. Presented at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2019, EGU Division Energy, Resources & Environment (ERE) - EGU General Assembly 2019, Vienna, Austria, 7&ndash;12 April 2019, Copernicus GmbH, pp. 9–18. https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-49-9-2019

Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Schneider, M., Cacace, M., 2018. Surface to groundwater interactions beneath the city of Berlin - Results from 3D models. Geofluids In Press.

Haacke, N., Frick, M., Scheck-Wenderoth, M., Schneider, M., Cacace, M., 2018. 3-D Simulations of Groundwater Utilization in an Urban Catchment of Berlin, Germany. Advances in Geosciences 45, 177–184. https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-45-177-2018





Frick, M., 2019. Towards a more sustainable utilization of the urban geological subsurface: Insights from 3D thermohydraulic models (PhD Thesis). FU Berlin, Berlin.





Update

Because it has been requested, we added a FEFLOW file that uses the hydraulic module only. The name is: Berlin_3D_H.fem