EcoRestoration Alliance’s Post

HOW TO STOP DROUGHT AND FLOOD DISASTERS NOT ONLY ON THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. I will try to explain this using the temperature regime and air mass flow on the day of the flood disaster (October 29, 2024), which took place in Valencia, Spain. The sources of temperature maps and air mass flow are from the web portal www.ventusky.com. It did not rain on the Iberian Peninsula all summer. Because the dried and overheated land created a thermal bubble over the peninsula and did not allow any moist, therefore colder atmospheric currents from the sea to enter the interior. Autumn came, the dried land cooled quickly. So the cooled interior began to suck in moist sea air into the interior. On October 29, when the flood hell in Valencia began, the interior of Spain was 7 degrees cooler than the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea. Note the flow of air masses between the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern coast of Spain. The still warm Aragon and Catalonia pushed the air flow further south to Valencia and Castile. The dried and heated Sahara also contributed to this. I recommend noting the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula. At the same time, the land temperature was about 2 degrees Celsius higher, as the sea temperature, so the air masses flowed around the coast of Portugal and not inland. What does this simple analysis of the temperature regime and the flow of air masses imply? Well, simply that if Spain and Portugal do not adopt systemic changes in water policy to stop the drying out of the peninsula, they will face catastrophic droughts and floods in the future. It is realistically possible to achieve that the amount of water that fell on Valencia with a yield of 400 mm in 4 hours falls on 4 times the area and of course with lower precipitation. This can be achieved by ecosystem restoration of the dried-up land in the regions of at least Valencia, Castile, Aragon and Casalonia. An example of how this can be done is in the Restoration Plan of the Košice Region in Slovakia. More here: https://lnkd.in/eyK8ft5z

Oct 19th 1973. 50 years ago. A local disaster in Southern Spain. Question. Is that due to climate change? This specific area was during decades one of the geological mapping regions by Geological Institute Univ. of Amsterdam MADRID, Oct. 20 1973 (AP)—Flash floods fed by torrential rains awept through parts of southern Spain last night and today, killing at least 93 people, officials said. More than 100 persons are missing and hundreds are stranded in flooded towns. It was believed to be the worst natural disaster in Spain since 1962, when floods in Barcelona killed 600 people. The rains came unexpectedly after a devastating six‐month drought. Officials said that eight inches of rain fell in some areas in only six hours. La Rabita, a village of 2,000, people on the Mediterranean coast, was reported the worst hit. Fifty bodies have been recovered there, and 40 persons are missing, officials said. Many victims in the town, in Granada Province, were trapped in their beds by the sudden floods, the officials reported. The semiofficial Cifra news agency reported that 37 bodies had been recovered from streets and in buildings crumbled by the waters in Puerto Lumbreras near the southwestern coast. Six persons drowned in Almería. The towns were unreachable by land, and helicopters and lifeboats were being used in rescue operations. Reports from La Rabita said that about 50 houses had been swept away by water and mud avalanches from nearby hills. The Albuflol River, which flows near La Rabita, and the Analgate River, which flows between Puerto Lumbreras and Lorca, had been so low until yesterday morning that children splayed in the river beds. After the rain the rivers overflowed their banks and water surged across the countryside, drowning cattle and desroying crops and property. Credit...The New York Times Archives See the article in its original context from October 21, 1973, Page 6B

The recent torrential rains and floods in Spain serve as a stark reminder of the potential disasters that can unfold, especially in a country renowned for its vibrant tourism industry. The region near Valencia, for instance, has witnessed some of the highest recorded extreme waves in the Western Mediterranean, reaching an astounding 8.44 meters at the Valencia buoy. Reflecting on past events, history reveals instances like the collapse of a vertical quay wall in Algeria during the 1930s under the force of a towering 9.0-meter wave. These historical incidents emphasize the importance of learning from such calamities. In the contemporary era, leveraging modern technologies like satellite data has become a prevailing trend in constructing predictive models. However, it's crucial to note that a data span of 40 years, though valuable, may only suffice for predicting extreme events within a range of 100 to 120 years. For more accurate estimations, a more extensive archive of records, often found in paper form, is indispensable. Drawing from personal experience in the Gulf region, the impact of events like the 1964 storm, characterized by significant storm surges, underscores the significance of incorporating historical data to enhance the precision of future storm predictions. Examining the current scenario, the antiquity of many streets, dating back to the 19th century or even earlier, coupled with rapid urban development and inadequate drainage systems, exacerbates the risk of flooding. Urbanization, particularly rapid and cost-driven development, often overlooks the potential for extreme events, compromising the resilience of the built environment. When these factors, both visible and unseen, converge, they set the stage for potential disasters. Understanding and addressing these multifaceted challenges are pivotal in mitigating the impacts of such catastrophic events. #SpainFloods #ExtremeEvents #FlashFloods #MediterraneanWaves #ProtectionStructures Source: The Sun - Spain Flooding Map Areas Worst Hit

The U.K. Met Office warned of “extreme rainfall” for central and southern Europe. “Some rivers may experience 1 in 100 year events,” it tweeted. French and Swiss disaster officials are warning of catastrophic flood risk for parts of central Europe. “The current forecast maps are reminiscent of the catastrophic floods of 2002, when a similar weather pattern led to devastating floods in the Czech Republic, Austria and eastern Germany,” wrote MétéoSuisse, the government meteorological agency in Switzerland, on Thursday. I hope that the people in my network and friends will be placed in safety. Flood Safety Tips : ☑️ Stay Informed: Keep updated with local news and weather forecasts for flood warnings. ☑️ Evacuation: If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Know your evacuation routes and have a plan in place. ☑️ Avoid Floodwaters: Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters. As little as six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot can sweep away a vehicle. ☑️ Move to Higher Ground: If flooding occurs, move to the highest level of your home but avoid enclosed spaces like attics without exits. ☑️ Electrical Safety: Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Avoid contact with electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. ☑️ Emergency Kit: Have an emergency kit ready with essentials, including food, water, medications, and important documents. ☑️ Post-Flood Precautions: Avoid floodwaters as they may contain hazardous materials. Wait for the "all-clear" before returning to affected areas.

In eastern Spain, heavy rains caused flash floods that led to widespread devastation, trapping people in vehicles and homes. Authorities have recovered 211 bodies, mainly from the Valencia region, with many still missing. Four days later, thousands of volunteers are aiding cleanup efforts amid power and water outages and shortages of essential goods. The floods struck particularly hard in the Magro and Turia river basins, catching many by surprise as they returned home. Chiva recorded more rainfall in one day than in the past 20 months, an extraordinary event. Alerts were issued asking residents to stay home, but many were already on the road, vulnerable in low-lying areas and garages that became deadly traps. Scientists attribute this flooding to human-induced climate change, highlighting warmer air retaining more moisture and altered weather patterns. A stalled storm system compounded the issue, intensified by the highest recorded sea temperatures in the Mediterranean. Experts warn that drought and flood cycles are increasing in frequency due to climate change. While eastern Spain typically experiences autumn storms, this event's severity was unprecedented, with comparisons drawn to the disastrous floods of 1957. This incident is now marked as the deadliest natural tragedy in Spain's recent history, surpassing the 1996 Biescas flood. In response, the Valencian government raised the emergency level and is coordinating assistance with the central government. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the deployment of military and police forces for rescue and recovery. A surge of volunteers is also supporting cleanup, following criticism of delayed flood warnings and calls for disaster relief and financial aid for the affected residents. #AsiaRisk #ExtremeWeatherEvents #India Get a full accounting of the security situation in Asia by subscribing to Security Asia. Subscribe now--free of charge--at https://lnkd.in/g7Cs8Gkf https://lnkd.in/g4P8s5cG

🌍 Water World: Europe’s Epic Flood Disaster Explained 💧 As covered by SciTechDaily, Europe has faced devastating floods that have highlighted the urgent need for improved climate resilience and disaster preparedness. These floods are a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change on global water systems and the need for proactive solutions. 🔹 Climate Change Impact: Extreme weather events, driven by rising global temperatures, are contributing to more frequent and intense floods across Europe. 🔹 Infrastructure Challenges: Many regions lack the necessary infrastructure to cope with such disasters, underscoring the importance of investing in flood prevention, early warning systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure. 🔹 Long-Term Solutions: Governments and communities must work together to implement water management strategies that address both short-term disasters and long-term environmental challenges. 💬 What steps should be taken to improve flood resilience in regions vulnerable to climate change? Read more: https://lnkd.in/dZh_UuwQ #ClimateChange #FloodResilience #WaterManagement #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #FloodPrevention #InfrastructureDevelopment #UtilityWire #ClimateResilience #DisasterPreparedness #WaterConservation #SciTechDaily #CleanWater

2024 has been yet another year characterized by a series of devastating #flood events across #Europe. In late May/early June we have seen an event that had many similarities with the 2013 Central European flood event, triggered by a low pressure system with a trajectory from the Mediterranean across central Europe, which are still referred to as Vb (spoken “5-b”) type events, following a windstorm track classification from Wilhelm Jakob #VanBebber in 1891. This event was exacerbated by particularly wet antecedent soil conditions. Later in September, there was yet another Vb-type event, affecting an even larger area in Central and Eastern Europe. Fortunately, unlike in late spring, this time the soil was not nearly as wet, limiting instead of exacerbating the flooding. Although both events led to multi-billion losses, a large portion of which will be #uninsured, the impact of both events would have been much worse if there had not been significant investments in better #floodprotection (and by this I mean not only physical measures, but all types of measures such as better preparedness, early warning systems, operational measures, etc.). Unfortunately, there are types of flooding that cannot be predicted as accurately and with as much of a lead time as events along major river systems. Such event are often triggered by rather local, relatively short, but extremely intensive rainfall, very quickly overwhelming the capacities of rivers, channels, and drainage systems. Sadly, the characteristics of these #flashflood type events do not only pose a significant risk to exposed values, but often also put people in immediate mortal danger. With #climatechange, #urbanization, value growth, etc., we can expect such flash flood events to become more frequent and more impactful in the future. In this blog, together with my colleagues Steffi Uhlemann-Elmer and Oliver Smith, we are reflecting on the recent flash flooding in Spain, which highlights once more that we, as a society, have still a long way to go to become more resilient against all types of flooding, not "just" fluvial/riverine flooding along the major rivers.  

Floods Part 2 Why did these massive flash floods happen? Scientists trying to explain what happened see two likely connections to human-caused climate change. One is that warmer air holds and then dumps more rain. The other is possible changes in the jet stream — the river of air above land that moves weather systems across the globe — that spawn extreme weather. Climate scientists and meteorologists said the immediate cause of the flooding is called a cut-off lower-pressure storm system that migrated from an unusually wavy and stalled jet stream. That system simply parked over the region and poured rain. This happens often enough that in Spain they call them DANAs, the Spanish acronym for the system, meteorologists said. https://lnkd.in/dvYfrnbu Does waves get affected by gravity? In fluid dynamics, gravity waves are waves generated in a fluid medium or at the interface between two media when the force of gravity or buoyancy tries to restore equilibrium. An example of such an interface is that between the atmosphere and the ocean, which gives rise to wind waves. https://lnkd.in/dBHykr9D. Does gravity affect water flow? Elevation changes: If a water supply system has to pump water uphill, gravity will work against the flow, causing a pressure drop. Also, higher altitudes mean lower atmospheric pressure, reducing potential energy for water flow. This can lead to more pronounced pressure drops. https://lnkd.in/da_eNU3Y. Do you remember this gravity discussion wide our vision about this unpredictable climate change, especially floods? Should we be more deep in gravity and weather changes?

#Flooding is a critical natural phenomenon that can significantly impact communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. It occurs when water overflows onto normally dry land, often due to heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or storm surges. Understanding #flood dynamics is essential for effective disaster risk management and mitigation strategies. By analyzing flood patterns and developing early warning systems, communities can better prepare for and respond to flood events, reducing potential damage and enhancing resilience. Floods also dramatically alter #river_morphology, affecting banks, #channels, and flow patterns, while leading to #erosion, #sediment displacement, and the destruction of protective structures like #breakwaters, #groynes, and levees. These changes can exacerbate future flooding #risks and have significant ecological and economic consequences. #Stilling_basins and #groynes are effective flood mitigation strategies. They protect infrastructure from high-velocity flows, improve water quality, and contribute to the resilience of aquatic ecosystems and surrounding communities. The video illustrates that improper implementation of #flood_prevention methods can not only fail to mitigate damage but can also exacerbate the situation, resulting in significant economic losses and wasted time. This highlights the importance of careful planning, execution, and monitoring of prevention strategies to ensure they effectively safeguard communities and resources. #flood #sediment #errosion #groynes #Stilling_basins #river_morphology #Debris_flows

🌍 Happy Earth Day! Today, let's talk about the lifeblood of our planet – water. Water sustains all life, but when not managed properly, it can wreak havoc on our communities. Did you know that flooding is one of the most significant threats associated with rivers? As rapid climate change and its consequences intensify, so do the risks of flooding and subsequent geohazards, impacting communities worldwide. Last weekend, massive flood triggered by unprecedented rain in Canton, a province of China, has reached 5.9 m above warning limit in some of the major rivers, has caused catastrophic debris flows and threatened millions of lives. In Canada, where our beautiful rivers are a defining feature of the landscape, understanding flood risks is crucial. That's where initiatives like The Canada Flood Map Inventory come in. This great resource provides an index of available flood mapping studies across the country, offering valuable data on flood risks, dates, public availability, and download links. You can assess it here: https://lnkd.in/gHDec4_x. By harnessing this data, we can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of flooding, safeguarding both our communities and our precious natural environments. Let's work together and build a recipient future. Happy Earth Day! 🌊 #EarthDay #FloodPrevention #GeoHazard #CanadaFloodMapInventory