Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
Water levels on the Rhine River, Europe's second-largest river, have continued to drop owing to soaring temperatures and lack of rainfall, preventing many vessels from navigating through the waters at full capacity. The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has captured part of the Rhine River near Cologne, showing the stark difference between August 2021 and August 2022.
Flowing from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea, the Rhine River is an important shipping route for many products from grains to chemicals to coal. When water levels drop, cargo vessels need to sail with reduced load, so they don't run aground.
Water levels at the chokepoint of Kaub, near Frankfurt, fell to 32 cm in depth on Monday, down from 42 cm last week. Ships, however, need around 1.5 m to be able to sail fully loaded making it difficult for larger ships to navigate through the waters. Freight ships continue to sail, but only with around 25% to 35% of the ship's capacity.
The low water levels are emerging earlier than usual, with the lowest water levels typically recorded in September or October. However, reduced temperatures and predicted rainfall forecasted for this week may offer relief to the Rhine.
Related Stories
Europe's drought exposes WWII ships, bombs and prehistoric stones:
Weeks of baking heat and drought across Europe have seen water levels in rivers and lakes fall to levels few can remember, exposing long-submerged treasures – and some deadly hazards.
In Spain, archaeologists have been delighted by the emergence of a prehistoric stone circle dubbed the “Spanish Stonehenge” that is usually covered by waters of a dam that have fallen in the worst drought in decades.
[...] The stone circle was discovered by German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier in 1926, but the area was flooded in 1963 in a rural development project under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. Since then it has only become fully visible four times.
Another of Europe’s mighty rivers, the Danube, has fallen to one of its lowest levels in almost a century as a result of the drought, exposing the hulks of more than 20 German warships sunk during World War II near Serbia’s river port town of Prahovo.
[...] Memories of past droughts have also been rekindled in Germany by the reappearance of so-called “hunger stones” along the Rhine river. Many such stones have become visible along the banks of Germany’s largest river in recent weeks.
Bearing dates and people’s initials, their re-emergence is seen by some as a warning and reminder of the hardships people faced during former droughts.
Dates visible on stones seen in Worms, south of Frankfurt, and Rheindorf, near Leverkusen, included 1947, 1959, 2003 and 2018.
See also:
Europe's Rhine River Runs Dry
European Drought Dries Up Rivers, Kills Fish, Shrivels Crops
Drought Forces Water Use Rethink In Spain
(Score: 2, Funny) by fustakrakich on Monday August 22 2022, @06:29PM (4 children)
Help is on the way! [youtube.com]
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by Revek on Monday August 22 2022, @08:34PM (1 child)
US type weather detected. Honestly this happens in the south eastern US on a yearly basis.
This page was generated by a Swarm of Roaming Elephants
(Score: 4, Touché) by Mykl on Monday August 22 2022, @09:22PM
OK, so will it be OK if Europe eventually moves to Australian Outback type weather in a few more years? Nothing to worry about because that's normal for Australia?
(Score: 1) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 22 2022, @08:52PM (1 child)
Uhhhh, wow. I've never seen hail actually break the windshield of a car. Can't help wondering if the windshield was already damaged. If not, can't help wondering if Euro windshield standards are up to US standards. That title, "scary storm" is appropriate.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 3, Touché) by EvilSS on Monday August 22 2022, @10:29PM
(Score: 1) by Adam on Monday August 22 2022, @06:52PM (4 children)
What kind of freight ships are they using that can operate in only a foot of water? That's about the limit of a little flat bottom fishing boat.
(Score: 2) by aafcac on Monday August 22 2022, @06:58PM
I would assume ones that are wide and not too tall. These aren't ocean going vessels, so presumably, they're going to be carrying a lot less stuff on them than an ocean going cargo ship would. These are more equivalent to a train.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 22 2022, @08:03PM (2 children)
A little googling turned up https://maritime-executive.com/article/rhine-water-levels-reaching-critical-level-impacting-shipping [maritime-executive.com]
Just because a barge can get through with "between 30 and 35 cm" doesn't mean that the tug boat pulling it can get through...or do they do the old Erie Canal thing with Sal the mule, walking and pulling the barge from the towpath?
(Score: 4, Informative) by HammeredGlass on Monday August 22 2022, @08:31PM
Average draft of barges on the Mississippi River is 9 feet.
Yes, the Mississippi River is a large river, but average of 9 feet is far away from 1 foot.
I'm just sharing data. Here is a good writeup with draft levels and water levels at several places along the Mississippi River:
https://agfax.com/2020/10/07/grain-transportation-restrictions-on-barge-traffic-due-to-low-river-water-levels-dtn/ [agfax.com]
(Score: 1) by fab23 on Tuesday August 23 2022, @01:53PM
Unfortunately I did not find any other reference for it and have it out of the article (in German) Was diese Woche wichtig war - Weitere Detonationen auf der Krim, Dürre bedroht Rheinschifffahrt – und eine Öko-Katastrophe in der Oder [republik.ch] I did read:
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 22 2022, @08:22PM (27 children)
I'm thinking of a word used for evaporating fresh water from sea water, so that the fresh water can be pumped away from the coastline, for all sorts of uses. De- de- de- uhhhh, de-something. De-saltification, maybe?
Maybe northern Europe isn't the most critically dry place on the earth, but apparently, they're in need of fresh, clean water.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by HammeredGlass on Monday August 22 2022, @08:46PM (23 children)
I want to see the boring middle of north Africa, maybe Libya(it has tons of hydrocarbon energy to make this profitable) turned into a giant desalinization plant. The salt residue(brine?) will be pumped into chambers dug there in a geologically stable area where we can send all of the world's nuclear waste to be buried in said salt stuff. Half the water goes to water deficient communities nearby and the other half goes towards the long term goal of hydrating the Sahara.
Yes, yes, yes, it's a nutty idea, but think of the by products of it?! If we flood the Sahara through these efforts, it becomes more livable and can then support North African economic migrants from abandoning their communities. If we keep at it long and strong enough, we will counter sea level rise to about the same level of effectiveness of our other "green" initiatives. Archaeologists and other students of the past will be thrilled to see retreating ocean levels which will expose untold numbers of human civilization hidden by water for thousands of years.
Wacky? Yes.
Fun? Absolutely.
Profitable? Yep
Let's Fucking Go!
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 22 2022, @09:01PM
You've gone a few steps further than I ever did. Underground voids, caverns and whatnot? Never thought about it. But, we can be certain that if the desalination plants can produce enough water to sustain a population, as well as some farming, the water will find it's own level eventually. After people use the water, it's got to go SOMEWHERE! Somewhere will always be down hill, following the path of least resistance, until it evaporates.
Let's not limit ourselves to the north coast though. Both east and west coasts are equally suitable candidates. Wherever the prevailing winds will carry evaporated moisture further inland, there you have a prime candidate for construction!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday August 23 2022, @12:22AM (21 children)
By products? What about unintended consequences? The Sahara is a major driver of weather patterns in the Atlantic. What happens if we alter that?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by ChrisMaple on Tuesday August 23 2022, @03:50AM
Let's model it, then go ahead. That's worked very well so far. (Like hell it has,)
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Tuesday August 23 2022, @12:02PM (19 children)
It's been altered before and the planet didn't blow up. People worry too much about changing climates affecting humans. Why? We are the ultimate adapters to weather on this planet. Let it happen.
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Wednesday August 24 2022, @03:17AM (16 children)
It's true that we are highly adaptable - that can be seen by the fact that we live in just about every corner of the world.
However, there is a huge difference between one person being able to adapt to live anywhere, and 7 billion people being able to adapt to move and live elsewhere all at once. The latter will simply never happen - war and famine would wipe out most of them in the process. And that is what we're trying to avoid by limiting Global Warming.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Wednesday August 24 2022, @12:59PM (15 children)
The modern disease of worrying about every person on the planet is a curse that you should free yourself from.
(Score: 3, Touché) by cmdrklarg on Wednesday August 24 2022, @03:23PM (8 children)
The actual modern disease is where a person cannot worry about anyone other than themselves, AKA "I got mine, fuck you".
Answer now is don't give in; aim for a new tomorrow.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @01:03PM (7 children)
Please tell us more about those wishing for taxpayers to cover their student loans.
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Thursday August 25 2022, @07:56PM (6 children)
What does that have to do with the migration of 7+ billion people? Doing nothing about the problems that will cause said migration will cost waaaay more than taking steps now, as Mykl has said below.
Being a rugged individualist only works if other individuals aren't trying to take your stuff. This does already happen, but it will get much, much worse if we continue on that road.
Answer now is don't give in; aim for a new tomorrow.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @10:56PM
oops. wrong thread.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @11:00PM (4 children)
'I got mine, fuck you' is what every person who will benefit from student loan "forgiveness" is doing.
What's your stance on student loans, which are done entirely by the federal govt now, and having taxpayers, who have already paid off loans, taxed to pay off someone else's loans as well?
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Friday August 26 2022, @03:14PM (3 children)
I am of the opinion that the US should subsidize higher education like other countries do, instead of forcing students go into massive debt to get a degree. What we *really* need to do is stop pushing the "you must get a college degree!" mantra. There are so many careers that can be made with a two year degree or trade school.
The money spent on debt forgiveness will be a net gain for society in general, and is a pittance compared to the handouts given to big businesses.
Yeah, I paid off my student loans long ago, as I didn't have much in the first place (there are advantages to having a father that was a poor farmer). I don't begrudge anyone getting their loans forgiven just because mine weren't.
Answer now is don't give in; aim for a new tomorrow.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Friday August 26 2022, @08:34PM (2 children)
The U.S. already subsidizes higher education since they took over as THE bank for college loans.
The real problem with tuition is who makes it cost this much. The faculty at these schools are the ones who are the primary culprits in the out of control college costs. The ones who enable their greed is the U.S. govt who finances the loans these faculty inflict on students.
So, the school faculty and the govt. are the problems here and they tell us they can fix it all by making it all paid for by the taxpayers??
Wow! P.T. Barnum had nothing on these conmen!
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Friday August 26 2022, @08:49PM (1 child)
Faculty? Noooo, that would be the administration of said colleges jacking up prices. I don't pretend to know the best way to change things, but something's got to change.
Answer now is don't give in; aim for a new tomorrow.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Friday August 26 2022, @10:12PM
Admin are just former faculty, and former students to boot.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Mykl on Wednesday August 24 2022, @11:15PM (5 children)
OK, let's play with that.
Pretend I'm Trump-like and see the entire world through the lens of personal benefit only.
Climate Change is going to seriously screw up my lifestyle. It's likely that my current home and region will become less inhabitable - particularly if I am like 90% of the globe and live near a coast. Unfortunately, the money I've invested in my home is now a straight-up loss - nobody wants to buy property that's either underwater or in a desert.
Poorer people, who were previously able to just get by, can no longer afford food or accommodation and are now turning to theft and assault to stay alive. The police force is unable to keep up with the increase in crime and my city has quickly turned into a demilitarized zone. I now need to spend more money on fortifying my (worthless) home to avoid being attacked, and need a bodyguard if I am to head out into the public.
Access to fresh food has become a hell of a lot harder - most of the farms have dried up, and the price of food has skyrocketed. Forget eating meat - that's for the ultra-rich only.
The collapse in civil society puts undue strain on essential services, and power, gas, water etc are no longer reliable. I'm now reduced to third-world conditions where my electricity supply is unstable. I have a backup generator, but the thieves keep trying to take it, and the cost of fueling it is getting ridiculous. The solar panels were smashed a long time ago by recent riots.
Even if it's only for yourself, try to worry about other people a little bit more.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @12:02PM (4 children)
Fuck you. No.
(Score: 2) by janrinok on Thursday August 25 2022, @02:19PM (3 children)
It is a credible scenario - what is your objection?
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @05:09PM (2 children)
"try to worry about other people a little bit more."
What I was responding to.
It used to be that when someone said this, they meant the people in your neighborhood. Now they mean all 8 billion people on the planet.
No. I won't do it. It's a non-starter of such proportions that no other human has ever been forced to deal with, and no human should have to deal with such a disparate and far flung entities as all people on the planet.
That is what global economy, global speech, global needs all mean. It's done like this so that they can plug billions of cogs into their machine which has no recourse for dissent.
I will care for the people that I care about to the extent that I wish to care about them. When someone says "try to worry about other people a little bit more.", what they are really saying is care about the people that I care about, and I am not having it.
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Thursday August 25 2022, @10:10PM (1 child)
It is possible to do things that benefit you _through_ benefiting others.
Do you drop your trash in the street, or look for a bin?
Do you still use CFC-based refrigeration? Would you if it were available?
Would you prefer leaded gasoline to unleaded if both were an option at the same price?
Given that you are going to be taxed regardless, are you OK with a proportion of those taxes going toward street lights, sanitation, road maintenance?
One of the great benefits of social security, to the selfish, is that it's a lot cheaper to pay your taxes toward this than it is to have to buy armored cars, security details for your house, continually wear body armor etc. That's the alternative if you let tens of thousands of people starve.
Those people who would prefer to say "Fuck you, got mine" are just far too short sighted to see the benefits of a civil society. We've seen what Libertarian paradises look like in other parts of the world - they're not pretty.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Thursday August 25 2022, @10:51PM
You can't fix other people's culture for them, unless you sympathize with the boarding schools' position in the Americas and Australia with the reeducation of their respective aborigines?
Was the Marshall Plan the last large scale ?success? at reorganizing lands and peoples? Although, we do now have to deal with the pencil neck busy bodies in Brussels.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday August 30 2022, @01:00AM (1 child)
Probably useless to point this out to someone of your mindset, but humans are not the only inhabitants of this planet. Climate change will affect the rest a whole lot more permanently than it does humans. I for one don't want to see a whole lot of what I consider the best part of living on this planet just so a few self absorbed people don't have to change anything about their lifestyle. Especially when making that change in lifestyle will likely be rather painless.
(Score: 2) by HammeredGlass on Tuesday August 30 2022, @04:44PM
blah blah blah
(Score: 3, Informative) by dltaylor on Monday August 22 2022, @09:42PM (2 children)
The water that you get from the North Sea is hundreds of kilometers from where it would be useful to keep the Rhine flowing. You would have to create another entire river to move that water to the Alps, and you would burn megawatts to move it uphill. There's not much wrong with using desalination to provide drinking/sanitation water to shoreline and near-shoreline communities, like Los Angeles. Obvious ones: what do you do with highly salinated waste water and the power requirements to operate/distribute to fresher water? It is impractical to fantasize that you can transport the fresher water hundreds of kilometers to make it available to the existing infrastructure for human consumption, agriculture, and transport.
LA pipes in water from north-eastern California (Owens Valley) and the Colorado River and uses none of it for transport, but the Owens Valley was turned into a desert, and the water levels in the Colorado River basin have reached the point where outflow pipes are no longer covered by the water in the reservoirs.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 22 2022, @10:01PM
You're making the mistake of taking the clown seriously.
What we need is magical ponies to fly the dew drops collected from daisies over the mountains and rescue all the endangered baby frogs.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 22 2022, @10:26PM
Didn't say anything about keeping the river flowing. But, obviously, if you're using desalinated water to supply cities and farms, you won't be pumping water out of the river, which will incidentally keep the river flowing at a higher level.
And, pumping liquids hundreds of miles isn't that big a deal. The hard part is pumping water uphill, the distance matters little. The Romans did it a couple thousand years ago. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210511081147.htm [sciencedaily.com]
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by oumuamua on Monday August 22 2022, @08:25PM (1 child)
If it was serious you'd care about 2% additional reduction in greenhouse gas. Not Germany, 2% extra is nothing, nuke shutdown will proceed: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/german-minister-rules-out-keeping-nuclear-plants-running-save-gas-2022-08-21/ [reuters.com]
Hope we all get to experience some schadenfreude if this decision backfires.
(Score: 1, Troll) by RedGreen on Tuesday August 23 2022, @12:00AM
"If it was serious you'd care about 2% additional reduction in greenhouse gas."
You are taking about the same morons who kept open the coal plants that actually release radiation in the atmosphere 24/7 during their normal operation it is in all coal produced and released when burnt. As opposed to the nuclear plants that need to be operated in a careless manner to have an accident and release radiation. They are not the brightest bunch and deserve all they get. They were warned many times about the Russians and watched on doing nothing for a good twenty years while Putin invaded and destabilized country after country. I wonder how long it will be before they stab the Ukrainians in the back and start sucking Putin's dick to get their gas back. They came to my country today (Canada) for their typical BS, they want us to build the lie of green hydrogen plants using wind power to produce it instead of taking some already being produced natural gas. Yeah they want to cut the emissions due to their actions, what a crock of shit that is...
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday August 22 2022, @10:20PM
A river used to run through it.
Bridge over the river Dry.
Firefly's River Dam(med)
Actor River Weetabix
No river for old men .....to fish in
Mississing river.
............................
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by jelizondo on Tuesday August 23 2022, @02:21AM
Crystal Clear Brooks
When the time comes
And the last day dawns
And the air of the piper warms
The high crags of the old country
When the holy writ blows
Like burned paper away
And wise men concede
That there’s more than one way
More than one path
More than one book
More than one fisherman
More than one hook
When the cats have all been skinned
And the fish have been hooked
When the masters of war
Are our masters no more
When old friends take their whiskey
Outside on the porch
Raise a glass to our comrades
Who carried their torches
We will have done well
If we’re able to say
As the sun settles down
On that final day
That we never gave in
That we did all we could
So the kids could go fishing
In crystal clear brooks
Roger Waters
a cover [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by ChrisMaple on Tuesday August 23 2022, @03:55AM (1 child)
Dredge the river. It's shallow enough that you can walk across it now. Time to use some bulldozers, or if it's rocky do some blasting.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 24 2022, @12:10AM
Hmmm, there's only so much water flowing into the river at this time. And if it stays dry, then no amount of dredging will add water depth...when there is no water.
It's not like dredging a harbor that's connected to the ocean or a large lake.