Southern Germany hit by catastrophic flooding – DW – 06/01/2024
www.dw.com
The southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have been inundated, causing dam bursts and prompting dramatic rescues. States of emergency have been declared in several areas with more heavy rain expected.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/16572873

The southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have been inundated, causing dam bursts and prompting dramatic rescues. States of emergency have been declared in several areas with more heavy rain expected.

Archived version: https://archive.ph/bF7J7

  • RubberDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
    28·
    5 months ago

    Extreme drought makes the issue worse, when the surface is too dry it does not absorb water quickly, meaning you get more runoff. If feels counter intuitive, but it’s true.

    You might have noticed this when watering a completely dried out plant. The water stays on the surface of the soil longer.

    • mranachi@aussie.zoneEnglish
      72·
      5 months ago

      Not quite correct, if I remember correctly dry soil adsorbs more water and quicker (by default) than waterlogged soil. But when is been dry for a long time a hydrophobic film forms, causing a temporary delay in water adsorption. I think it can impact flash flooding, but it washes off fairly quickly and then adsorption returns to expected.