Final Hazard Report

 Germany's main natural hazard threats 

Volcanoes

Germany is not known for many recent volcanic eruptions but, the Eiffel region in Germany is highly volcanic and is one of the biggest threats to the country and its citizens. The volcanic activity in this region is millions of years old and has had devastating eruptions in the past. The area is full of underground volcanic flows and has various dormant volcanoes. Recently scientists have recorded carbon dioxide bubbles coming from deep underground indicating magma chambers moving toward the surface. Many geologists feat the danger in this area could dramatically change in a matter of months. The possibility of volcanoes reawakening is high and one volcano, in particular, could have devastating effects. The caldera of Laacher See is the youngest dormant volcano in the region. 

The above picture is one of the Laacher See located just west of the River Rhine, near many residential areas. Around 12,000 years ago the Laacher See erupted, the eruption was 250 times larger than the eruption of Mount St. Helens. If this dormant volcano were to erupt today it would be catastrophic for the region and most likely have a large death toll. 

Volcanic threat mitigation

The real danger in the Eiffel region is that there is no current warning system for an imminent volcanic eruption. Geologists have confirmed that the Laacher See volcano will erupt again, it is just a matter of when. This region has been classified as a dangerous zone but the lack of any warning system is concerning for the public. What I would implement is a nationwide alert system on cell phones. Just as phones get alerts for other natural disasters a volcanic eruption should also be an event the public is notified about. The issue with this alert system is that scientists still are not completely confident about when the volcano could erupt. I would also recommend the entire Eiffel region be monitored more closely by scientists. Indicators such as small earthquakes, CO2 bubbles, and migration of ants are some events that scientists consider when warning the public about an eruption. I would also create an evacuation plan for people living around the area. Anybody living in a certain radius of active volcanos in the region should be evacuated to prevent any loss of life. It would also be a good idea to stop building homes close to the Eiffel region. If scientists know that at some point in the future the Laacher See will erupt it is not smart to continue to build homes in the area that could possibly be damaged or destroyed because of an eruption. 

Coastal Erosion and its effect on flooding

Germany's coastline is along the North and Baltic Seas and is approximately 2,300 miles long. This coastline is eroding rapidly and is one of the biggest natural threats to the country. German scientists have confirmed that around two-thirds of the country's coastline is undergoing erosion. The erosive sand and marshland on the coast are the main drivers of this issue. Property and residential neighborhoods on the coast are not currently at risk but flooding is the major concern at the moment. The marshlands that are eroding are natural flood barriers and without them, the risk of deadly floods increases dramatically. The erosion that is occurring allows seawater to reach rivers flooding them and causing major damage to homes. 

Other factors such as extreme rainfall levels are also causing erosion and extreme flooding events. Over the past 100 years, flooding in Germany has killed hundreds of people and cost the country billions of dollars in damage. In recent years these numbers have increased and researchers have concluded marshland and natural sea barrier erosion, along with rainfall, are the main causes. 

Coastal Erosion mitigation

To mitigate the threat of deadly flooding due to erosion I would continue with some of the strategies that are currently in place. Firstly more artificial structures called beach nourishments should be built. These are designed to support erosive sand. Beach nourishments are built by adding additional sediment, like sand, to eroding beaches and could protect a lot of the German coastline from continued erosion. Aquatic plants could also be beneficial. Planting aquatic vegetation near the coastline protects against erosion because their roots can hold soil and sediment in place. To protect natural marshlands I would recommend building revetments. Revetments are built to absorb the impact of water and are commonly used to protect the edges of marshes. Another strategy that is currently in use is building man-made marshes. Having more marshes is beneficial because of their natural ability to absorb water during floods and prevent them from reaching mainland populated areas. One other strategy is to build larger banks or floodplains around rivers. Focusing on rivers that often flood during storms and building protective banks would be smart because flooding rivers are the most deadly areas during heavy rainfall.

Where to target first

For the volcanic threat in Germany, I would first focus on the Eiffel region. Other areas in Germany contain volcanos like the Hegau region or the Rhon Mountains, but the Eiffel region poses the biggest threat to human life. Below is the area of Germany classified as the Eiffel region. 

The Eiffel covers an area of 3,293 miles. Because of the active volcanoes in this region, I would start by targeting towns and cities. The Eiffel has 25 German towns and cities located in it and all of them are potentially at risk during the event of a volcanic eruption. Making sure people are aware of the volcanic danger in these towns is the first step. The next step is to make sure every town or city in this area has evacuation plans ready. 

For coastal erosion, I would focus on the entire coastline of Germany. Two-thirds of the whole coastline is suffering from erosion so there are no specific areas that are best to target. I would first focus on protecting eroding marshlands. These areas should be the top priority because of their effect on flooding and the natural ability to prevent it. 

Rivers are another area that I would focus resources on. During intense rainfall towns and cities along rivers experience the worst flooding. During the floods of July 2021 towns along the River Meuse, River Rhine, and River Ahr had the most damage. Reinforcing rivers with larger banks and other flood protection would be another important step that would save lives.  

Where I would build a home

If I were to build a home in Germany I would most likely build it in the city of Nurnberg. Nurnberg is located in the Southeast area of Germany and is the second-largest city in the state of Bavaria. The city has a cooler climate and a large population of about 500,000 people. I would choose this area because it is far away from the coast and not too close to any major rivers. Nurnberg has also not been affected by any of the recent major floods. Having a home far away from any rivers protects me from any deadly flooding and destruction of my home. Nurnberg is also far away from the Eiffel region protecting my home from a volcanic eruption. If the Laacher See volcano were to erupt most of Germany would be covered in volcanic ash but my house would not be immediately destroyed. Nurnberg is a perfect spot for my home because it is not threatened by the two major natural threats in the country. 

Sources

https://www.statista.com/topics/8742/floods-in-germany/#dossierContents__outerWrapper

https://www.geotextiletubes.com/coastal-erosion-protection/germany/

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-volcanic-eifel-region-a-powderkeg/video-62051844

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eifel#Volcanism

.http://www.eurosion.org/shoreline/17sylt.html

https://www.q-mag.org/germany-a-danger-of-volcanic-eruptions.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57862894

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg#Geography

https://www.esys.org/rev_info/Deutschland/laachsee.html