The September 2017 flood in Elbląg (Poland) in perspective
Journal Title: Meteorology Hydrology and Water Management Research and Operational Applications - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
On the morning of 18 September 2017, the center of the city of Elbląg in northern Poland was inundated by the rapidly rising waters of the Kumiela River, resulting in considerable damage and chaos in the city. The present paper provides information about this event, which was caused by intense precipitation lasting two days. We put this individual event in perspective by examining the climate track in the observation and projection of flood hazard through analyzing changes in temperature, precipitation and intense precipitation. We also examine the non-climatic factors of flood risk, such as spatial development and river regulation. Further, we pose the question of whether actions aimed at flood risk reduction, predominantly by way of structural defenses in the catchment of the Kumiela River, really reduce the flood risk in Elbląg. We also offer more general remarks pertaining to flood risk reduction in Poland, primarily based on technical measures, and we unveil the shortcomings of the current flood risk management system in Poland. In the social consciousness, the structural flood defense strategy has become the norm of thinking in terms of methods for reducing the effects of floods in Poland, but this does not always contribute to reducing flood damage either locally or nationally. We refer to some good examples of preparedness for urban inundations caused by heavy precipitation in other cities.
Authors and Affiliations
Roman Konieczny, Iwona Pińskwar, Zbigniew Kundzewicz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP544267
- DOI 10.26491/mhwm/92406
- Views 66
- Downloads 0
Use of conventional and satellite data for estimation of evapotranspiration spatial and temporal pattern
Evapotranspiration values (ET) are crucial for agriculture where estimates of water reserves available for crops are the basis for scheduling the time and intensity of irrigation, yield prognoses, etc. Detailed evapotran...
Projections of changes in heavy precipitation in the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains
Heavy and/or long-lasting precipitation events in the Tatra Mountains and their northern foothills may cause floods that propagate downstream in the Vistula River and inundate large areas of Poland. In a warmer climate,...
The use of kernel estimators to determine the distribution of groundwater level
In this paper the problem of non-parametric estimation of the probability density function for hydrological data is considered. For a given random sample X1, X2, ..., Xn we define an estimator fˆn of the density function...
Project RIOT – ”Ring of Threats” as an example of Decision Support System (DSS). Concept and Realization
The current state of knowledge and the latest trends and examples of decision support systems (DSSs) are presented in this paper. Special emphasis was placed on a DSS proposal based on post-processed numerical weather fo...
Analysis of instruments for assessment of planned investments in water management
Integrated water resource management is a process oriented towards sustainable development through the shaping, allocation and monitoring of water resources, taking into account social, economic and environmental objecti...