Dr. Klaus Berger, (retired)
Photo: UHH, RRZ/MCC, Mentz
Senior scientist (retired)
Address
Contact
Key aspects of activity
- HELP modell
- Editorship Hamburger Bodenkundliche Arbeiten
Curriculum Vitae
| 01.04.2023 | Retired |
| 1999 | Dr. rer. nat., Universität Hamburg, Department Earth Sciences Title of doctoral thesis: Validierung und Anpassung des Simulationsmodells HELP zur Berechnung des Wasserhaushalts von Deponien für deutsche Verhältnisse. [Validation and adaptation of the simulation model HELP for the calculation of the water balance of landfills under German conditions] (in German) Umweltbundesamt, Fachgebiet III 3.6 (PT AWAS des BMBF), Berlin |
| 1992 | Diplom-Geograph (Master of Science in Geography), Universität Hamburg; main subjects: physical geography and soil science |
| since 12/1989 | Member of the scientific staff in the Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg in the working group of Prof. Dr. Günter Miehlich (retired) and Prof. Dr. Annette Eschenbach, respectively |
| 1989 | Diplom-Informatiker (Master of Science in Computer Science), Universität Hamburg |
Research and Working Focuses
- Soil hydrology
- Water balance of cover systems for landfills and contaminated sites
- Validation and enhancement of soil hydrological models in the field of landfill technology, especially of the HELP model (developer of HELP-D)
- Automatic data processing and acquisition
Teaching
- Lecture with exercises and excursion "Soil hydrology" (in German, M.Sc. Earth sciences. 1st semester, 2 SWS, every winter semester)
- Lecture with exercises "Computer aided techniques in Earth Sciences" (for B.Sc. Earth sciences, 3rd semester, 2 SWS, every winter semester)
- Lecture with exercises "Guidance for scientific working for B.Sc.-candidates in soil science" (elective for B.Sc. Earth sciences, 5th semester, 1 SWS, every winter semester, together with Claudia Fiencke and Christian Knoblauch)
- Supervision of theses
Further Duties and Activities
Related to the university (ongoing):
- Editor of the series Hamburger Bodenkundliche Arbeiten, treasurer and thus management board member of the 'Verein zur Förderung der Bodenkunde Hamburg' (Association for the Promotion of Soil Science Hamburg)
Inside the university (formerly):
- IT officer of the Institute of Soil Science (IT management, IT services, user suppor; until March 2023)
- Webmaster of the Institute of Soil Science (until March 2023)
- Head of the library of the Institute of Soil Science (2004 until March 2023)
- IT commissioner of the Department Earth System Sciences (May 2004 until January 2023)
- Equal opportunity commissioner of the Institute of Soil Science (2011 until December 2022)
- Spokesperson of the equal opportunity commissioners/equal opportunity commissioner of the Department Earth System Sciences (2019 until December 2022)
- Responsible for fire protection in the Institute of Soil Science (coordinator of the buildung AP2, 2020 until 2022)
Outside the university:
- Expertises for HELP model applications
- Courses for HELP model users from consulting companies, authorities and universities etc.
- Reviewer for international scientific journals
Technology Transfer
Click here to get information on the model HELP-D for the simulation of the water balance of liner systems for landfills and contaminated sites.
Publications
References are sorted by category and within a category in reverse chronological order. Only publications in English are listed (except for the dissertation/Ph.D. thesis which is in German). See this section in German for a more complete list including publications in German.
Click here to view a list of the versions of the simulation model HELP-D.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Berger, K., Gröngröft, A., Gebert, J., 2019. 20 years performance measurements of a landfill cover system with components constructed from pre-treated dredged sediments. Waste Management, 100, 230-239. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2019.09.016
Berger, K., 2018: Operational validation of HYDRUS (2D/3D) for capillary barriers using data of a 10-m tipping trough. J. Hydrol. Hydromech., 66 (2), 153-160. doi:10.1515/johh-2017-0059; links: PC Progress: Thematic HYDRUS issue in JHH, JHH Vol 66, No. 2
Berger, K.U., 2015: On the current state of the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model. Waste Management, 38, 201-209, doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2015.01.013.
Berger, K., Gröngröft, A., Harms, C., 2011. Water balance and efficiency of landfill covers composed of layers of dredged material: Results from long-term measurements in Northern Germany. Pedologist 54, 285-293. doi: 10.18920/pedologist.54.3_285
Melchior, S., Sokollek, V., Berger, K., Vielhaber, B., Steinert, B., 2010. Results from 18 Years of In Situ Performance Testing of Landfill Cover Systems in Germany. Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 136 (8), 815-823. doi 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000200
Berger, K., 2002: Potential and Limitations of Applying HELP Model for Surface Covers. Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management 6(3), 192-203. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)1090-025X(2002)6:3(192)
Berger, K., 2000: Validation of the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model for Simulating the Water Balance of Cover Systems. Environmental Geology, 39 (11), 1261-1274. doi: 10.1007/s002549900090
Tresselt, K., Miehlich, G., Groengroeft, A., Melchior, S., Berger, K., Harms, C., 1998: Harbour Sludge as Barrier Material in Landfill Cover Systems. Wat. Sci. Tech., 37 (6-7), 307-313. doi: 10.1016/S0273-1223(98)00212-1
Berger, K., Melchior, S. Miehlich, G., 1996: Suitability of Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the simulation of the water balance of landfill cover systems. Environmental Geology, 28 (4), 181-189. doi: 10.1007/s002540050092
Book sections
Haarmeyer, D.H., Luther-Mosebach, J., Dengler, J., Schmiedel, U., Finckh, M., Berger, K., Deckert, J., Domptail, S.E., Dreber, N., Gibreel, T., Grohmann, C., Gröngröft, A., Haensler, A., Hanke, W., Hoffmann, A., Husted, L.B., Kangombe, F.N., Keil, M., Krug, C.B., Labitzky, T., Linke, T., Mager, D., Mey, W., Muche, G., Naumann, C., Pellowski, M., Powrie, L.W., Pröpper, M., Rutherford, M.C., Schneiderat, U., Strohbach, B.J., Vohland, K., Weber, B., Wesuls, D., Wisch, U., Zedda, L., Büdel, B., Darienko, T., Deutschewitz, K., Dojani, S., Erb, E., Falk, T., Friedl, T., Kanzler, S.-E., Limpricht, C., Linsenmair, K.E., Mohr, K., Oliver, T., Petersen, A., Rambold, G., Zeller, U., Austermühle, R., Bausch, J., Bösing, B.M., Classen, N., Dorendorf, J., Dorigo, W., Esler, K.J., Etzold, S., Graiff, A., Grotehusmann, L., Hecht, J., Hoyer, P., Kongor, R.Y., Lang, H., Lieckfeld, L.A.B., Oldeland, J., Peters, J., Röwer, I.U., September, Z.M., Sop, T.K., van Rooyen, M.W., Weber, J., Willer, J., Jürgens, N., 2010. The BIOTA Observatories. In: Jürgens, N., Haarmeyer, D.H., Luther-Mosebach, J., Dengler, J., Finckh, M., Schmiedel, U. (Eds.), Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 1: Patterns at local scale - the BIOTA Observatories, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek, pp. 6-801.
Steinert, B., Melchior, S., Burger, K., Berger, K., Türk, M., Miehlich, G., 1997: Design of Capillary Barriers for Capping of Landfills and contaminated Sites. In: August, H., Holzlöhner, U., Meggyes, T. (Eds.): Advanced Landfill Liner Systems. Th. Telford, London, pp. 286-301.
Dissertation/Ph.D. thesis
Berger, K., 1998/1999: Validierung und Anpassung des Simulationsmodells HELP für die Berechnung des Wasserhaushalts von Deponien für deutsche Verhältnisse. Schlußbericht, Umweltbundesamt, PT AWAS des BMBF, Berlin, 569 S. (zugleich Dissertation, Fachbereich Geowissenschaften der Universität Hamburg) (in German)
[Validation and Adaptation of the Simulation Modell HELP for Calculating the Water Balance of Landfills for German Conditions. Final Report, Federal Environmental Protection Agency of Germany, PT AWAS of the BMBF, Berlin, 569 pp. (out of stock) (also Ph.D. thesis, Department Earth Sciences, Universität Hamburg)]
Published conference papers
Berger, K., Melchior, S., 2019. Soil Temperatures in Landfill Cover Systems – Measurement Results from Hamburg, Germay. Proceedings Sardinia 2019. Seventeenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 30 September - 4 October 2019, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. CISA Publisher, 6 pp.
Berger, K., 2017. Comparison and Validation of SWMS_2D and HYDRUS (2D/3D) for Capillary Barriers Using Data of a 10-m Tipping Trough. Proceedings Sardinia 2017. Sixteenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 2 - 6 October 2017, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. CISA Publisher, 10 pp.
Berger, K., Groengroeft, A., Gebert, J., Harms, C., Eschenbach, A., 2017. 20 years of long-term water balance measurements of a landfill cover system with components constructed from pre-treated dredged material. Proceedings Sardinia 2017. Sixteenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 2 - 6 October 2017, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. CISA Publisher, 10 pp.
Berger, K., 2013. Current state and future prospects of the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model for simulating the water balance of landfill liner systems. In: Cossu, R., He, P., Kjeldsen, P., Matsufuji, Y., Reinhart, D., Stegmann, R. (Eds.), Sardinia 2013. 14th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, 30.09.-4.10.2013. Padova: CISA Publisher, Paper 567, 15 pp.
Berger, K., Groengroeft, A., Harms, C., 2009. Water balance and effectiveness of a landfill cover with layers of dredged materials: The Hamburg-Francop case. In: Cossu, R., Diaz, L.F., Stegmann, R. (Eds.), Sardinia 2009. Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, 5 - 9 October 2009. Padova: CISA Publisher, 9 pp.
Berger, K., Melchior, S., 2009. Landfill capping and water balance of cover systems. In: Cossu, R., Diaz, L.F., Stegmann, R. (Eds.), Sardinia 2009. Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, 5 - 9 October 2009. Padova: CISA Publisher, 11 pp.
Berger, K., Melchior, S., Sokollek, V., Steinert, B., Vielhaber, B., 2009. Water balance and effectiveness of landfill covers: 20 years measurements at the landfill Hamburg-Georgswerder. In: Cossu, R., Diaz, L.F., Stegmann, R. (Eds.), Sardinia 2009. Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, 5 - 9 October 2009. Padova: CISA Publisher, 9 pp.
Gröngröft, A., Gebert, J., Berger, K., Melchior, S., 2009. Optimisation of landfill cover properties with regard to water balance and methane oxidation. In: Cossu, R., Diaz, L.F., Stegmann, R. (Eds.), Sardinia 2009. Twelfth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, 5 - 9 October 2009. CISA Publisher, 9 pp.
Berger, K., 2008. Validation and enhancement of Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model. Global Waste Management Symposium, Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA, 07.-10.09.2008, 10 pp.
Melchior, S., Sokollek, V., Berger, K., Steinert, B., 2008. Results from 18 years of in-situ performance testing of landfill cover systems in Germany. Global Waste Management Symposium, Copper Mountain, Colorado, USA, 07.-10.09.2008, 12 pp.
Berger, K., 2006: The HELP-Model (HELP(-USA), HELP-D, Visual HELP). In: Conference Proceedings, Landfill Workshop Zittau – Liberec 2005, Dimensioning Landfill Surface Liner Systems Using Water Balance Models, November 10 – 11, 2005. Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (FH), Wissenschaftliche Berichte 86, pp. 47-58.
Berger, K., 2006: Validation of HELP model using data of water balance test fields on the landfill Hamburg-Georgswerder. In: Conference Proceedings, Landfill Workshop Zittau – Liberec 2005, Dimensioning Landfill Surface Liner Systems Using Water Balance Models, November 10 – 11, 2005. Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (FH), Wissenschaftliche Berichte 86, pp. 153-164.
Gröngröft, A., Tresselt, K., Berger, K., Harms, C., Maaß, B., 2004: Long-term control of the effectiveness of the surface sealing system on the harbor sediment disposal site Hamburg-Francop. In: WODCON XVII, Dredging in a Sensitive Environment, Hamburg, Germany, 27 Sept. - 1 Oct. 2004. CEDA, 8 pp. ISBN 90-9018244-6
Berger, K., Melchior, S., 2019. Soil Temperatures in Landfill Cover Systems – Measurement Results from Hamburg, Germay. Proceedings Sardinia 2019. Seventeenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 30 September - 4 October 2019, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. CISA Publisher, 6 pp.
Berger, K., 2003: Validation and Enhancement of the HELP Model to Simulate the Water Balance of Surface Covers. In: Christensen, T.H., Cossu, R., Stegmann, R. (Eds.): Sardinia 2003. Ninth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium. S. Margherita di Pula, 6 – 10 October 2003. Padova: CISA Publisher, Abstract: pp. 294-296, full paper on CD (040.pdf): 10 pp.
Tresselt, K., Miehlich, G., Gröngröft, A., Melchior, S., Berger, K., Harms, C., 1997: Harbour Sludge as Barrier Material in Landfill Cover Systems. ICCS International Conference on Contaminated Sediments, 7 - 11 September 1997, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Preprints Vol. II, pp. 973-980.
Melchior, S., Berger, K., Vielhaber, B., Miehlich, G., 1994: Multilayered Landfill Covers: Field Data on the Water Balance and Liner Performance. In: Gee, G.W., Wing, N.R. (Hrsg.), 1994: In-Situ Remediation: Scientific Basis for Current and Future Technologies. Thirty-Third Hanford Symposium on Health and the Environment, November 7-11, 1994, Pasco, Washington, U.S.A., Part 1, pp. 411-425.
Vielhaber, B., Melchior, S., Berger, K., Miehlich, G., 1994: Field Studies on the Thermally Induced Desiccation Risk of Cohesive Soil Liners below Geomembranes in Landfill Covers. In: Gee, G.W., Wing, N.R. (Hrsg.), 1994: In-Situ Remediation: Scientific Basis for Current and Future Technologies. Thirty-Third Hanford Symposium on Health and the Environment, November 7-11, 1994, Pasco, Washington, U.S.A., Part 1, pp. 663-674.
Melchior, S., Berger, K., Vielhaber, B., Miehlich, G., 1993: Results of the Long-term Monitoring of Different Types of Covers on the Georgswerder Landfill (Hamburg, FRG). In: Arendt, F. et al. (Eds.): Contaminated Soil '93. Fourth International TNO/KfK-Conference of Soil Contamination, 03.-07.05.1993 in Berlin, FRG. Kluwer Academic Publ., Dordrecht, Vol. 1, pp. 853-862.
Melchior, S., Berger, K., Vielhaber, B., Miehlich, G., 1993: Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Liner Systems for Top Cover. In: Proceedings of the Fourth International Landfill Symposium Sardinia 93, October 11-15, 1993, Cagliari, Italia, pp. 225-234.
Melchior, S., Berger, K., Vielhaber, B., Miehlich, G., 1993: Water Balance and Efficiency of Different Landfill Cover Systems. In: Arnould, M. et al. (ed.): Geology and Confinement of Toxic Wastes. Proceedings of the International Symposium Geoconfine '93. June 8-11, 1993 in Montpellier, France. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1, pp. 325-330.