Satellite Data Reveals Danube River Bed Emergence
European Commission-published images show how the Danube was before the beginning of the drought and how it looks now. The images reveal entire areas where islands have formed in the middle of the river, and in many places the water has retreated from the banks by meters.
The decline in the Danube’s flow dropped to 1,400 cubic meters per second, below the previous historic minimum recorded in 2003 and two days earlier than hydrologists had estimated.
Did you know? In the interval 5 – 12 august, the forecasted value of the flow will be below the multi-year average of the month of August (3,900 mc/s).
Cernavodă Nuclear Plant Cooling Crisis
The continuous decrease puts pressure on the operation of the nuclear power plant from Cernavodă, while authorities are preparing the sinking of four barges loaded with rock, in an intervention meant to increase the water level in the plant’s area and ensure the supply of cooling water for Unit 2.
To prevent this, authorities are preparing to sink four barges loaded with rock. This intervention aims to increase the water level in the area of the plant and to ensure the supply of cooling water for Unit 2.
Hydrological Projections for August
INHGA prognoza shows that the flow of the Danube river, at the entrance into the country (Baziaş section), will be situated, on Wednesday, at the value of 1,400 mc/s, similar to the historical minimum level from 1985, and subsequently will remain stationary until the first days of next week. In the same analyzed interval, downstream of the Iron Gates, the flows of the Danube will be, in general, in slight decrease. According to INHGA, in the interval 6 – 12 August, the daily average flows, on rivers, will be relatively stationary, but isolated increases are possible, of levels and flows, on some small water courses from the hill and mountain areas, as a result of forecasted precipitations, under the form of a shower, locally more significant quantitatively.
“We mention that the prognostic estimates for the Cernavodă section have an indicative character, considering the potential impact of ongoing interventions in the confluence area of the Danube with the Bala arm, which can determine the significant reduction of the decrease in levels in this section,” the cited source specifies.
Comparative Water Flow Data
| Metric | Current/Forecast Value | Benchmark/Average |
|---|---|---|
| Baziaş Flow Rate | 1,400 m³/s | 3,900 m³/s (Aug Average) |
| Historic Low (1985) | 1,400 m³/s | Current Level (Matched) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Cernavodă plant sinking barges?
Authorities are preparing the sinking of four barges loaded with rock, in an intervention meant to increase the water level in the area of the plant and to ensure the supply of cooling water for Unit 2.
How does the current flow compare to previous years?
The flow of the Danube, at the entrance in the country (Baziaş section), will be situated, on Wednesday, at the value of 1,400 mc/s, similar to the historical minimum level from 1985, and in the interval 5 – 12 August, the forecasted value of the flow will be below the multi-year average of the month of August (3,900 mc/s).
Will rain help the Danube’s water levels?
Isolated increases are possible, of levels and flows, on some small water courses from the hill and mountain areas, as a result of forecasted precipitations, under the form of a shower, locally more significant quantitatively, while downstream of the Iron Gates, the flows of the Danube will be, in general, in slight decrease.
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