Experts say Europe floods show need to curb emissions, adapt

[Paco Dennis]

BRUSSELS (AP) — Just as the European Union was announcing plans to spend billions of euros to contain climate change, massive clouds gathered over Germany and nearby nations to unleash an unprecedented storm that left death and destruction in its wake.
Despite ample warnings, politicians and weather forecasters were shocked at the ferocity of the precipitation that caused flash flooding that claimed more than 150 lives this week in the lush rolling hills of Western Europe.
Climate scientists say the link between extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable and the urgency to do something about climate change undeniable.

Experts say Europe floods show need to curb emissions, adapt

 

[Don M.]

My wife is from Trier, Germany....only a short distance from where these floods occurred. Her Sister, who lives in Idaho, keeps in touch with some of their distant relatives still living in Germany...a couple of which may have been in the impacted areas. She will be trying to make contact with them in coming days, and hopefully they will not be among those hit by this weather.

This, and the weather extremes we are seeing, all over the globe, are quite likely exacerbated by human activity. Doing something to reverse these trends...in time to make any difference...is quite unlikely, IMO. These are conditions that we will have to learn to live with, and try to prepare for.

 

[Warrigal]

The planet is reacting to the increased amount of energy stored in all the major systems. The answer is to reduce the heat retaining chemicals in the atmosphere. Simple thermodynamics 101.

 

[WhatInThe]

Over building and over use of dams not helping either. Building on what was once a flood plain or was near or in a river not helping. Weren't the Germans frantically pumping water out from behind one of their dams.

 

[Cameron]

For sure a good example of thermodynamics. And i gather the carbon will dissipate over time, methane a lot faster. Manufacturing the political and social will seem to be the real challenge in the world we have today. Hope we make some concerted effort for the sake of the younger generation and future generations.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

Over building and over use of dams not helping either. Building on what was once a flood plain or was near or in a river not helping. Weren't the Germans frantically pumping water out from behind one of their dams.

Let's see, in the 1950s/60s were the first warnings of climate change due to fossil fuel use. They predicted that by the far off date of 2000, we would begin to see a more violent weather patterns-dryer deserts, wetter wet lands, etc. Year ago, we built dams, canals and all manner of flood controls. But they were designed for "normal" floods, not the "century" floods that are now happening more and more frequently. Those water control plans channel water into walled up rivers, and already filled dams, which just can't handle the immense volume of water. There's no way for rivers to expand, so they break through flood walls, and overtop dams. Where the breaks occurs, a few areas get the full devastating effects of a flood , which used to be spread out through out the flood plain.

 

[squatting dog]

It's not like it hasn't happened in the world before. Also kinda hard to blame fossil fuels for some of those floods.

https://www.history.com/news/worlds-most-catastrophic-floods-in-photos

What are some of the biggest floods in the world?

• China Flood (1931)
• Yellow River Flood (1887)
• Yellow River Flood (1938)
• Banqiao Dam Failure (1975)
• Yangtze River Flood (1935)
• St. Felix Flood (AD.1530)
• Red River and Hanoi Delta Flood (1971)
• Yangtze River Flood (1911)
• St. Lucia Flood (AD.1287)
• North Sea Flood (AD.1212