Rhine in Flames: fireworks, flames and romantic flair
The Rhine in Flames is a fireworks spectacular that takes place along the most scenic stretches of the Rhine every year between May and September. From Rüdesheim to Bonn, spectacular pyrotechnics and curtains of fire bathe the riverbanks and landmarks in a magical red glow, and a flotilla of illuminated riverboats glides beneath mesmerising patterns of light in the night sky – a romantic and unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Rhine in Flames: the river at its most romantic. This
captivating display of fireworks and illuminations can be witnessed on
five dates at some of the most scenic locations on the Middle Rhine.
There's always a traditional wine festival or similar celebration
happening at the same time, as well as music and dancing. In the late
evening, beautifully illuminated boats sail out into the river to give
their passengers the best views of the fireworks, which begin as the
flotilla arrives. Every year the first section of the route is from Linz
to Bonn, but if you'd rather stay on dry land, maybe to see the
illuminated boats as well as to enjoy the fireworks, the riverbank
celebrations at Linz, Remagen, Bad Honnef, Königswinter and Bonn are
just the thing for you. Bonn's Rheinaue Park is the venue for the
biggest single Rhine in Flames event, a festival that draws some 300,000
visitors, spreading excitement during the afternoon and offering a
wonderful view of the fireworks spectacular before midnight – the climax
and culmination of an unforgettable evening.
Rhine in Flames, various towns and cities
Floods in Europe
Extreme flooding in Central Europe began after several days of heavy rain in late May and early June 2013. Flooding and damages primarily affected south and east German states (Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg), western regions of the Czech Republic (Bohemia), and Austria. In addition, Switzerland, Slovakia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary and Serbia (Vojvodina) been affected to a lesser extent.[5][6] The flood crest progressed down the Elbe and Danube drainage basins and tributaries, leading to high water and flooding along their banks.
The spring weather preceding the flooding had been wet in the region, and May 2013 had been one of the three wettest in the last 156 years in Austria, together with the years 1962 and 1965. Austria saw twice as much rainfall as average during the month,[7] resulting in the ground in the region becoming saturated. Soils in Germany were showing record levels of moisture prior to the rains.[8] The already saturated soils led to greater runoff when the rains began.
In last ten days of May a low pressure system named "Christoffer" swung up from the Mediterranean across the Black Sea then across Ukraine and Poland to Northern Germany, eventually bringing a very moist, and warm airmass to Central Europe from north-east. Late May saw a blocking high "Sabine" located over the Sole sea area to the west of the UK and France. This split the jet stream over Europe which maintained the weather pattern in Central Europe.
Amount of rainfall within 72 hours (2 June 2013)
Spring and summer flooding in Central Europe is commonly associated with the so-called "Zugstrasse Vb" track of low pressure areas, which bring low pressure and moist air from the Mediterranean Sea
over Central Europe, and have led to severe flooding in the affected
region before. Low pressure areas "Frederik" and "Günther" formed over
the northern Adriatic and tracked north towards central Europe. The high
pressure "Sabine" and low pressure areas brought an airflow from the
north across Germany, which brought the water-laden air from the north
east. The air mass was pushed to the south west by the northerly flow,
where it was lifted as it moved south from the North European Plain over the Thuringian Forest, Ore Mountains, and Bohemian Forest. The air was then lifted along the north side of the Alps in Austria as the air masses were pushed into the Alps by the northerly flow, which led to intense orographic precipitation. Heavy rain was reported in the Austrian states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol and the area of Salzburg, and to the mountains of Upper Austria and Lower Austria and Upper Styria in a short time.
On 30 May to 1 June, 150 to 200 mm of rain (5.9 to 7.9 in of rain) fell, in places reaching around 250 mm (9.8 in), which in just a few days was the equivalent normally seen over two and a half months on average.[9] The rainfall experienced in Austria has an expected return period of between 30 and 70 years. The bulk of the rain fell in only two days in Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg, which is thought to have a return period of more than 100 years.[10]
Following the intense rain, sporadic showers and rainfall continued to raise the risk of further flooding but no rainfall of the intensity as that seen on 31 May-2 June occurred.[11] Some Flash flooding occurred in the Polish capital Warsaw on 9 June, as a result of thunderstorms.[12]
The flood waters were expected to exceed the levels seen during the disastrous "once in a century" Central European floods of 2002 in some areas. In Bavaria and eastern Germany water levels significantly exceeded those of 2002 in many places on the Danube and Elbe. In Passau, at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz, the highest water level since 1501 was recorded. In Dresden, by contrast, the old city centre was largely spared, unlike in 2002. Thanks to better flood control, fewer dykes on the upper reaches of the Elbe broke than in 2002, but this meant that the flood wave further downstream was all the higher. In Magdeburg, the floods reached a record level.[4]
Elbe drainage basin
The upper areas of the Elbe basin saw heavy rainfall, with the Vltava
(Czech Republic) and the Saale (Germany) tributaries flooding.
In Prague, the Hostivař and Záběhlice neighbourhoods in the southeast of the city were flooded. Hundreds of homes in Modřany and Zbraslav in the south of the city were also evacuated while some people in Lahovice and Velká Chuchle were rescued by helicopter.[18] The tigers at Prague Zoo were tranquilised and moved out of their enclosure, which was at risk from flooding.[19] The Czech government declared a state of emergency in seven regions of the country including Prague, in response to the floods.[20] Petr Nečas, the Czech prime minister, announced on 4 June that the government will release 4 billion CZK (€ 155m, £ 133m, $ 203m) from the state reserves to repair the damage.[21] More than 19,000 people were evacuated in the Czech Republic (as of 5 June 2013).[22] In Prague the Staropramen Brewery on the river bank was closed as a protective measure, along with several major chemical factories, including Spolana, which had released dangerous toxic chemicals into the Elbe during the devastating floods of 2002.[23]
In the area surrounding the city of Leipzig, some 6,000 people had to be evacuated on 4 June.[24] In Zwickau, Saxony the Volkswagen factory had to stop its car production, a spokesman said 3 June early shift had been asked to stay at home, with damage done to transport infrastructure raising fears that suppliers would not be able to deliver their products in time. The factory was able to resume production by 4 June.[28] German armed forces were able to protect chemical production facilities in the Middle German Chemical Triangle from the floods.[28]
Flooding in Budapest, Hungary on 5 June 2013
The historic centre of Passau, where the Danube, Inn and Ilz converge, was underwater on 1 June.[15] In Passau the water levels reached 12.85 m (42.2 ft), overflowing the highest recorded historic flood level.[29][30]
After a dike failed near the town of Deggendorf, water levels rose to a record-breaking eight metres (26 ft). The town flooded and in places buildings were two metres (6.6 ft) underwater. In the Fischerdorf area of the town, water lapped at second-storey windows. Some residents refused to evacuate, fearful of looting and not wanting to leave their lives behind. The town's fire station was underwater, with car dealerships holding millions of euros worth of vehicles destroyed.[31]
Flooding affected German businesses with Krones, a bottling and packaging manufacturing company, shutting down production in two plants in upper Bavaria, as workers were unable to get to work on the inundated roads.[28]
The entire Austrian stretch of the Danube saw all shipping halted.[19]
Budapest, Bratislava, and other river cities along the Danube enacted emergency preparations.[17] In Bratislava, the Danube peaked with a volumetric flow rate of 10,530 m3/s (372,000 cu ft/s), which is the highest flow rate ever recorded in Bratislava.[32] In Hungary, the Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared a state of emergency in some areas along the Danube, which was expected to peak 5 June in western areas and hit Budapest the following weekend. He announced the government had mobilised 8,000 soldiers, 8,000 emergency personnel, 1,400 water management experts,and 3,600 police officers to deal with the situation.[26]
The European Commission stated that help would be available to the victims of the current flooding through the European Union Solidarity Fund, which it set up after the last major floods to hit the region in 2002.[33] The floods led to the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters being activated, which provides a unified system of data acquisition and delivery to those affected by disasters.[34]
On June 3, the German Federal civil protection authorities triggered
the Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service via the European Commission's
Emergency Response Centre.[35]
Insurance industry specialists said they expected insurance losses to fall short of the last big floods to hit the region in 2002, some areas experienced higher waters, but investment over the previous ten years has meant that flood defences in a number of locations worked better than in 2002.[36]
Come to Rüdesheim to join the
magnificent fireworks event between Trechtingshausen and Bingen /
Rüdesheim that for over 37 years has attracted visitors from all over
the world to the Rhine
river. Experience numerous fabulous fireworks displays, “burning
castles”, and a striking fleet of illuminated riverboats. For the most
spectacular view of this event, reserve a seat aboard one of the ships
that cast off at Rüdesheim. You should contact the Rüdesheim Tourist Center by mail for an offer. Reservations are possible - prices may increase slightly.
Running of the eventMost of the ships are leaving from Rüdesheim between 6.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. and return to Rüdesheim around midnight. The journey leads past numerous castles into the fabled Upper Middle Rhine Valley (UNESCO World Heritage since 2002). Like pearls on a string line the forts, castles and romantic ruins on both sides of the Rhine river between Rüdesheim/Bingen and Koblenz. Around 50 ships join the flotilla that glides majestically below perhaps the most elaborate fireworks to be seen in Germany.
The surrounding valley erupts in a final climactic display of
pyrotechnic art. Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere created by
the rain of stars and fountains of fire reflected in the waters of the Rhine and the thunder of the fireworks echoing from the steep banks. The culmination of the Rhine in flames is the great final fireworks fired from a platform in the middle Rhine between Rüdesheim and Bingen. Then the ships put back to the exit in Rüdesheim or Bingen. A supporting programme takes place from Friday to Sunday in town.
Floods in Europe
Extreme flooding in Central Europe began after several days of heavy rain in late May and early June 2013. Flooding and damages primarily affected south and east German states (Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg), western regions of the Czech Republic (Bohemia), and Austria. In addition, Switzerland, Slovakia, Belarus, Poland, Hungary and Serbia (Vojvodina) been affected to a lesser extent.[5][6] The flood crest progressed down the Elbe and Danube drainage basins and tributaries, leading to high water and flooding along their banks.
The spring weather preceding the flooding had been wet in the region, and May 2013 had been one of the three wettest in the last 156 years in Austria, together with the years 1962 and 1965. Austria saw twice as much rainfall as average during the month,[7] resulting in the ground in the region becoming saturated. Soils in Germany were showing record levels of moisture prior to the rains.[8] The already saturated soils led to greater runoff when the rains began.
In last ten days of May a low pressure system named "Christoffer" swung up from the Mediterranean across the Black Sea then across Ukraine and Poland to Northern Germany, eventually bringing a very moist, and warm airmass to Central Europe from north-east. Late May saw a blocking high "Sabine" located over the Sole sea area to the west of the UK and France. This split the jet stream over Europe which maintained the weather pattern in Central Europe.
On 30 May to 1 June, 150 to 200 mm of rain (5.9 to 7.9 in of rain) fell, in places reaching around 250 mm (9.8 in), which in just a few days was the equivalent normally seen over two and a half months on average.[9] The rainfall experienced in Austria has an expected return period of between 30 and 70 years. The bulk of the rain fell in only two days in Salzburg, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg, which is thought to have a return period of more than 100 years.[10]
Following the intense rain, sporadic showers and rainfall continued to raise the risk of further flooding but no rainfall of the intensity as that seen on 31 May-2 June occurred.[11] Some Flash flooding occurred in the Polish capital Warsaw on 9 June, as a result of thunderstorms.[12]
The flood waters were expected to exceed the levels seen during the disastrous "once in a century" Central European floods of 2002 in some areas. In Bavaria and eastern Germany water levels significantly exceeded those of 2002 in many places on the Danube and Elbe. In Passau, at the confluence of the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz, the highest water level since 1501 was recorded. In Dresden, by contrast, the old city centre was largely spared, unlike in 2002. Thanks to better flood control, fewer dykes on the upper reaches of the Elbe broke than in 2002, but this meant that the flood wave further downstream was all the higher. In Magdeburg, the floods reached a record level.[4]
Climatological context
Stefan Rahmstorf, a professor of ocean physics at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, stated that a low-pressure system that dumped the rain was locked into place by a disturbance with the global wind pattern. Linking the weather to the concurrent drought conditions in Russia, he said pressure systems stay locked in place, causing a persistent pattern of weather in an area. He also stated that this planetary wave resonance is not a local effect but spread around the whole (northern) hemisphere. When a “resonance” episode occurs, half a dozen peaks and troughs of high or low pressure form around the hemisphere. This explains why some parts of the world become unseasonably hot or cold and others unusually dry or rainy. The resonance theory has become widely discussed among climate scientists since first published in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change last year. But it has met resistance among experts who are wary about associating single extreme-weather events with climate change.[13][14]Hydrological development
The Austrian meteorological centre (ZAMG) said Austria had experienced at the beginning of June as much rain in two days as it normally would in two months.[15] Train lines in many parts of northwest Austria were suspended on 1 June due to landslides according to Austrian Federal Railways. The town of Ettenau was evacuated, while one person in Sankt Johann im Pongau near Salzburg was caught in a mudslide and died.[15] Rail services between Munich and the Austrian city of Salzburg also were suspended.[15] One section of a Swiss motorway was shut down due to flooding, along with many smaller roads throughout the country. Swiss officials said water levels were still rising and landslides remained a risk, although the general situation was under control.[15]Elbe basin
Vltava river
In the Czech capital Prague, floodwaters covered the esplanades along the Vltava, which on 3 June flowed at a rate of 3,200 m3/s (110,000 cu ft/s), compared to the almost 5,000 m3/s (180,000 cu ft/s) in the devastating floods of 2002.[16][17] Parts of all three city metro lines were closed. The transit authority provided alternative transport in the form of buses and special trams.[18] Heavy machinery was brought in to protect the historic Charles Bridge in the city, as a digger with an extended 17-metre (56 ft) long arm was used to clear debris from accumulating at the bridge.[18] One thousand troops from the Czech Army were called in to help build flood defences.[17] Fire fighters helped evacuate more than 7,000 people on 2 – 3 June from areas hit by the floods, in the region of central, northern and western Bohemia, including parts of the Czech capital.[18]In Prague, the Hostivař and Záběhlice neighbourhoods in the southeast of the city were flooded. Hundreds of homes in Modřany and Zbraslav in the south of the city were also evacuated while some people in Lahovice and Velká Chuchle were rescued by helicopter.[18] The tigers at Prague Zoo were tranquilised and moved out of their enclosure, which was at risk from flooding.[19] The Czech government declared a state of emergency in seven regions of the country including Prague, in response to the floods.[20] Petr Nečas, the Czech prime minister, announced on 4 June that the government will release 4 billion CZK (€ 155m, £ 133m, $ 203m) from the state reserves to repair the damage.[21] More than 19,000 people were evacuated in the Czech Republic (as of 5 June 2013).[22] In Prague the Staropramen Brewery on the river bank was closed as a protective measure, along with several major chemical factories, including Spolana, which had released dangerous toxic chemicals into the Elbe during the devastating floods of 2002.[23]
Saale river
In the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the Saale river also caused concern, with officials fearing that it might rise even higher than in 2002.[24] In the area around Halle alone, authorities told some 30,000 people to evacuate their homes, the Saale river, a tributary of the Elbe, had risen 26 feet (7.9 m) above its normal level. In Halle one of the city’s main sources of tourist income is the Handel music festival, which was called off.[25]Elbe river
In the state of Saxony, the old town of Grimma, on the Mulde tributary was under metres of water. Authorities were concerned about the Elbe river; in Dresden one of the bridges across the river was closed to traffic.[24] In the city of Magdeburg, authorities declared a state of emergency and said they expected the Elbe river to rise higher than in 2002.[26] In Magdeburg with water levels of five metres (16 ft) above normal about 23,000 residents had to leave their homes on 9 June.[27]
In the area surrounding the city of Leipzig, some 6,000 people had to be evacuated on 4 June.[24] In Zwickau, Saxony the Volkswagen factory had to stop its car production, a spokesman said 3 June early shift had been asked to stay at home, with damage done to transport infrastructure raising fears that suppliers would not be able to deliver their products in time. The factory was able to resume production by 4 June.[28] German armed forces were able to protect chemical production facilities in the Middle German Chemical Triangle from the floods.[28]
Danube basin
After a dike failed near the town of Deggendorf, water levels rose to a record-breaking eight metres (26 ft). The town flooded and in places buildings were two metres (6.6 ft) underwater. In the Fischerdorf area of the town, water lapped at second-storey windows. Some residents refused to evacuate, fearful of looting and not wanting to leave their lives behind. The town's fire station was underwater, with car dealerships holding millions of euros worth of vehicles destroyed.[31]
Flooding affected German businesses with Krones, a bottling and packaging manufacturing company, shutting down production in two plants in upper Bavaria, as workers were unable to get to work on the inundated roads.[28]
The entire Austrian stretch of the Danube saw all shipping halted.[19]
Budapest, Bratislava, and other river cities along the Danube enacted emergency preparations.[17] In Bratislava, the Danube peaked with a volumetric flow rate of 10,530 m3/s (372,000 cu ft/s), which is the highest flow rate ever recorded in Bratislava.[32] In Hungary, the Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declared a state of emergency in some areas along the Danube, which was expected to peak 5 June in western areas and hit Budapest the following weekend. He announced the government had mobilised 8,000 soldiers, 8,000 emergency personnel, 1,400 water management experts,and 3,600 police officers to deal with the situation.[26]
Rhine river
Flooding along the Rhine watershed was less severe in terms of flood damage. Shipping was halted on extensive stretches of the Rhine, Main, and Neckar rivers.[15]Reaction
Insurance industry specialists said they expected insurance losses to fall short of the last big floods to hit the region in 2002, some areas experienced higher waters, but investment over the previous ten years has meant that flood defences in a number of locations worked better than in 2002.[36]
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen