Europe is suffering from a serious drought in some of its main rivers that threatens to have worrying economic and energy effects.
The Rhine River has reached its lowest levels in history in several parts of Germany and the Netherlands due to the prolonged heat waves that hit Europe.
Lower levels were recorded last week in Cologne, in western Germany, and in Lobith, where the Rhine crosses from Germany into the Netherlands, than at any time on record.
Other major European rivers with crucial roles in transport, industry and agriculture have also recorded record low levels, such as the Danube, which runs through 10 countries, and the Italian Po.
According to European Union observatories, drought conditions remained stable and critical in most of Europe, worsening in the center and west of the continent in mid-July.
The current heatwave is expected to last for at least another week, raising temperatures above 40°C in many central and southern European countries.
Germany's National Low Water Information System (NIWIS) reported that 44% of measuring stations on the Rhine and 78% of those on the Danube recorded extremely low water levels at the end of July.
The Rhine, which originates in the Swiss Alps and empties into the North Sea, is one of the busiest waterways in Europe. The declining water level has raised concerns about the economic consequences of having to limit shipping and shipping.
Electricity supply and nuclear power plants
Last Friday, the depth of navigable waters in the Kaub Strait near Koblenz, Germany, reached a record low of 25 cm recorded in 2018, before recovering slightly on Monday.
The Kaub measuring station in western Germany is a key indicator of the Rhine's navigability, as it measures the carrying capacity of ships. The low water levels there can severely restrict river navigation.
Martin Wolters of the Rhine Waterways and Naval Transport Authority told German media outlet WDR that while it was unlikely that shipping on the Rhine would be completely suspended, precautions would have to be taken, such as distributing the load of more ships to lighten their weight.
Over time, this can lead to higher transportation costs and supply bottlenecks, Wolters said.
“There comes a time when the loads are too small to be worth it or shipowners worry about damaging their ships,” a commodities trader told Reuters.
Last week, the waters of the Danube fell to the lowest levels in 30 years in several countries, including Serbia and Romania, causing serious interruptions in electricity supplies.
Serbia reduced production at its coal-fired power plants due to a lack of water, which has disrupted the operation of its cooling systems, while Romania carried out a controlled explosion on a large rock on the banks of the Danube to increase the flow of water to the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.
Two car factories in Romania, run by Dacia and Ford, have agreed to stop production for more than two weeks to reduce electricity consumption.
Hungary's only nuclear power plant is on the brink of closure.
The facilities are operating at reduced capacity and those responsible are evaluating whether it will be necessary to disconnect them completely.
Problems in Italy
The Po River, Italy's longest, also hit a record low near the city of Cremona in late July. Authorities raised the drought alert level to “high” across the Po Valley, while experts warned of possible disruptions to drinking water supplies.
The decrease in the flow of the Po at its mouth has also caused salty sea water to flood the river bed, altering the ecosystem and causing serious problems for farmers who use its water to irrigate their crops.
A recent study by World Weather Attribution, an international scientific collaboration project, concluded that no clear long-term trend towards decreased rainfall had been observed over much of Europe.
However, researchers noted that human-caused climate change is increasing moisture evaporation due to higher temperatures, making drought conditions more likely.
The hot and dry climate has also increased the demand for water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.
Prolonged periods of drought can also affect lake water levels, impacting the availability of freshwater resources.
The EU's Copernicus climate service said the 2022 drought in Europe contributed to an increase in wildfire activity, which in turn led to higher-than-average carbon emissions.
*With additional information from Mark Poynting.
