Atmospheric processes triggering the central European floods in June 2013

Grams, Christian M.; Binder, Hanin; Pfahl, Stephan; Piaget, Nicolas; Wernli, Heini

doi:10.5194/nhess-14-1691-2014

Cited by 136 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

107

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, Reager et al (2014) point to the importance of a positive water storage anomaly for the 2011 Missouri floods. The floods in June 2013 in central Europe were preceded by above-average precipitation during the second half of May that influenced the flood discharge by presaturating the soils (Grams et al, 2014). Schröter et al (2015) further show that this exceptional flood event resulted from the combination of non-extraordinary precipitation with extremely high initial wetness.…”

Section: P Froidevaux Et Al: Flood-triggering Precipitation In Switmentioning

confidence: 88%

Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation

Froidevaux

Schwanbeck

Weingartner

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Determining the role of different precipitation periods for peak discharge generation is crucial for both projecting future changes in flood probability and for short-and medium-range flood forecasting. In this study, catchmentaveraged daily precipitation time series are analyzed prior to annual peak discharge events (floods) in Switzerland. The high number of floods considered -more than 4000 events from 101 catchments have been analyzed -allows to derive significant information about the role of antecedent precipitation for peak discharge generation. Based on the analysis of precipitation times series, a new separation of flood-related precipitation periods is proposed: (i) the period 0 to 1 day before flood days, when the maximum flood-triggering precipitation rates are generally observed, (ii) the period 2 to 3 days before flood days, when longer-lasting synoptic situations generate "significantly higher than normal" precipitation amounts, and (iii) the period from 4 days to 1 month before flood days when previous wet episodes may have already preconditioned the catchment. The novelty of this study lies in the separation of antecedent precipitation into the precursor antecedent precipitation (4 days before floods or earlier, called PRE-AP) and the short range precipitation (0 to 3 days before floods, a period when precipitation is often driven by one persistent weather situation like e.g., a stationary low-pressure system). A precise separation of "antecedent" and "peak-triggering" precipitation is not attempted. Instead, the strict definition of antecedent precipitation periods permits a direct comparison of all catchments.The precipitation accumulating 0 to 3 days before an event is the most relevant for floods in Switzerland. PRE-AP precipitation has only a weak and region-specific influence on flood probability. Floods were significantly more frequent after wet PRE-AP periods only in the Jura Mountains, in the western and eastern Swiss plateau, and at the outlet of large lakes. As a general rule, wet PRE-AP periods enhance the flood probability in catchments with gentle topography, high infiltration rates, and large storage capacity (karstic cavities, deep soils, large reservoirs). In contrast, floods were significantly less frequent after wet PRE-AP periods in glacial catchments because of reduced melt.For the majority of catchments however, no significant correlation between precipitation amounts and flood occurrences is found when the last 3 days before floods are omitted in the precipitation amounts. Moreover, the PRE-AP was not higher for extreme floods than for annual floods with a high frequency and was very close to climatology for all floods. The fact that floods are not significantly more frequent nor more intense after wet PRE-AP is a clear indicator of a short discharge memory of Pre-Alpine, Alpine and South Alpine Swiss catchments. Our study poses the question whether the impact of long-term precursory precipitation for floods in such catchments is not overestimated in the general ...

show abstract

Section: P Froidevaux Et Al: Flood-triggering Precipitation In Switmentioning

confidence: 88%

Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation

Froidevaux

Schwanbeck

Weingartner

et al. 2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This configuration resulted in a steady and significant transport of moist and warm air masses toward Central Europe. The Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea served as sources of moisture, but evaporation from continental landmasses of southeastern Europe also played an important role (Grams et al 2014).…”

Section: Meteorological Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the flood risk management system in Germany after the major flood in 2013

Thieken¹,

Kienzler²,

Kreibich³

et al. 2016

E&S

138

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABSTRACT. Widespread flooding in June 2013 caused damage costs of €6 to 8 billion in Germany, and awoke many memories of the floods in August 2002, which resulted in total damage of €11.6 billion and hence was the most expensive natural hazard event in Germany up to now. The event of 2002 does, however, also mark a reorientation toward an integrated flood risk management system in Germany. Therefore, the flood of 2013 offered the opportunity to review how the measures that politics, administration, and civil society have implemented since 2002 helped to cope with the flood and what still needs to be done to achieve effective and more integrated flood risk management. The review highlights considerable improvements on many levels, in particular (1) an increased consideration of flood hazards in spatial planning and urban development, (2) comprehensive property-level mitigation and preparedness measures, (3) more effective flood warnings and improved coordination of disaster response, and (4) a more targeted maintenance of flood defense systems. In 2013, this led to more effective flood management and to a reduction of damage. Nevertheless, important aspects remain unclear and need to be clarified. This particularly holds for balanced and coordinated strategies for reducing and overcoming the impacts of flooding in large catchments, cross-border and interdisciplinary cooperation, the role of the general public in the different phases of flood risk management, as well as a transparent risk transfer system. Recurring flood events reveal that flood risk management is a continuous task. Hence, risk drivers, such as climate change, land-use changes, economic developments, or demographic change and the resultant risks must be investigated at regular intervals, and risk reduction strategies and processes must be reassessed as well as adapted and implemented in a dialogue with all stakeholders.

show abstract

“…In May 2013, a quasi-stationary upper-level trough over central Europe triggered several surface lows which on the eastern side advected warm and humid air masses from south-eastern Europe (Grams et al, 2014) northwards and curved into Germany and Austria (Schröter et al, 2015). The intense and widespread precipitation that triggered the June 2013 flood occurred at the end of May and beginning of June.…”

Section: Event Description and Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

New insights into flood warning reception and emergency response by affected parties

Kreibich

Müller²,

Schröter

et al. 2017

Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Flood damage can be mitigated if the parties at risk are reached by flood warnings and if they know how to react appropriately. To gain more knowledge about warning reception and emergency response of private households and companies, surveys were undertaken after the August 2002 and the June 2013 floods in Germany. Despite pronounced regional differences, the results show a clear overall picture: in 2002, early warnings did not work well; e.g. many households (27 %) and companies (45 %) stated that they had not received any flood warnings. Additionally, the preparedness of private households and companies was low in 2002, mainly due to a lack of flood experience. After the 2002 flood, many initiatives were launched and investments undertaken to improve flood risk management, including early warnings and an emergency response in Germany. In 2013, only a small share of the affected households (5 %) and companies (3 %) were not reached by any warnings. Additionally, private households and companies were better prepared. For instance, the share of companies which have an emergency plan in place has increased from 10 % in 2002 to 34 % in 2013. However, there is still room for improvement, which needs to be triggered mainly by effective risk and emergency communication. The challenge is to continuously maintain and advance an integrated early warning and emergency response system even without the occurrence of extreme floods.

show abstract

Atmospheric processes triggering the central European floods in June 2013

Cited by 136 publications

References 37 publications

Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation

Flood triggering in Switzerland: the role of daily to monthly preceding precipitation

Review of the flood risk management system in Germany after the major flood in 2013

New insights into flood warning reception and emergency response by affected parties

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About