The Lower Havel River Region (Brandenburg, Germany): A 230-Year-Long Historical Map Record Indicates a Decrease in Surface Water Areas and Groundwater Levels

Instrumental data show that the groundwater and lake levels in Northeast Germany have decreased over past decades, this process has accelerated few years. In addition to global warming, direct influence of humans on local water balance is suspected be cause. Since instrumental usually go back only a little known about multidecadal centennial-scale trend, which also takes long-term climate variation by into account. This study aims quantitatively reconstruct surface areas Lower Havel Inner Delta adjacent Lake Gülpe Brandenburg. The analysis includes calculation from historical modern maps 1797 2020. major finding approximately 30% since pre-industrial period, with decline being continuous. Our comprehensive measures hydro-engineering correspond lowering started before recent warming. Further, large-scale melioration increasing demands upstream wetlands beginning 1960s 1980s may amplified downstream areas.