Causes of floods in the Far East

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

In the middle of the summer of 2013, the Far East suffered catastrophically terrible floods. At this time, floods in the Far East led to the flow of water in the Amur in the amount of 46 thousand m³ / s. For comparison, the norm is considered to be a flow rate in the range of 18-20 thousand m³ / s. This phenomenon broke all records and became the largest in 115 years of observation. Heavy rainfall over a long period of time is believed to be the main cause of the flooding.

Flooded Russian Amur region

Floods in the Far East of Russia mostly affected three regions: the Amur Region, the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region. In these areas, a huge amount of agricultural land has suffered, with a total of ten billion rubles. Excess water completely flooded the reservoirs belonging to the Bureyskaya and Zeya hydroelectric power stations. The floods began at the end of August, and already on August 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the region. Within itsDuring his visit, he personally inspected the flooded area from a helicopter and studied the reports of the heads of the affected regions. According to the results of the information received, Vladimir Vladimirovich released Viktor Ishaev, the presidential representative in the Far Eastern District, from all powers. On August 7, a state of emergency was introduced in five regions of the Far East: Yakutia, Amur Region, Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, and the Jewish Autonomous Republic.

Consequences in the Amur Region

One hundred twenty-six settlements fell under the flood in the Amur Region. Eight thousand residential buildings were flooded, which left 36,339 people homeless, ten thousand of whom were children. Twenty thousand gardens and summer cottages were also flooded. The state of emergency was maintained in the Amur Region for more than a year, from July 23, 2013 to October 1, 2014. After the start of measures to evacuate the victims, more than one hundred and twenty thousand people received assistance.

The suffering of Khabarovsk

Years of floods in the Far East dragged on like an eternity. The life of the inhabitants of the Khabarovsk Territory also became painful. As of September 14, 77 flooded settlements were registered here. Including three thousand residential buildings, in which 35 thousand people lived. In Khabarovsk, the water level rose for thirteen days without stopping. Initially, it was 716 cm, which is 116 cm above the critical mark and 74 cm more than the record level. By August 31, the level was recorded at around 784 cm,September 1, 792 cm, and 4 is already 80 cm. The decrease was noticed only on September 5.

The first reason is a blocking anticyclone

The first most important and significant cause of flooding in the Far East was anomalous changes in the process of circulation in air masses in the southern part of Siberia and the Far East. This imbalance led to the formation of protracted cyclones with high power. For a better understanding of the situation, it is important to consider the parameters of humidity and temperature in flooded regions. So before the flood in the summer over the northern territory of China, there was a high temperature regime, accompanied by high humidity. At the same time, there was a low temperature with dry air over Yakutia. This situation arose due to a blocking anticyclone that appeared over the Pacific Ocean. This wave stopped a powerful cyclone over the Amur region. It was the blocking anticyclone that did not allow the cyclone to escape into the Sea of Okhotsk with the necessary speed. As a result, by July 2013, a stationary frontal zone hung over the Amur region. It was along it that cyclones saturated with tropical moisture alternately moved for two months. That was the reason for the annual precipitation over the Amur and Jewish Autonomous Regions. As a result, there was a simultaneous activation of all flood areas, which led to a flood in the Far East. Previously, synchronous activation of all zones at once was not observed. In order to avoid flooding in the Far East, it is necessary that the flood first fall on the upper Amur andBureya, and later, around the end of August, on Sungari and Ussuri.

The second reason is the snowy winter

Within the Amur basin, an excessively snowy winter and late spring were observed, which provoked flooding in the Far East. These reasons seem not so significant in their name, but their form led to irreversible consequences. It was these factors that led to the flood in early July 2013, provided that the soil was sufficiently saturated with water in the range of 70-80%. There is a threat that this situation may become permanent. Forest fires and deforestation also played a significant role. After all, the nature protection function is assigned to the forest, but, unfortunately, the Far East could count on this protective mechanism.

Terrible flood trail

In fact, six regions were affected by the flood, including the Amur and Magadan regions, Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Republic of Sakha. The strongest blow fell on the Amur region. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, as a result, more than 8 million km² of the total territory was flooded in the Far East. Water flooded thirteen and a half thousand residential buildings, every fifth of them became absolutely unsuitable for further living. The disaster affected one hundred and thirty-five thousand residents of the Far East, thirty-two thousand were evacuated. The flood affected roads (1.6 thousand km), bridges (174 units) and social facilities (825 units). For agricultural enterprisesturned out to be especially profitable. The lack of an opportunity to prepare a sufficient forage base led to a hungry winter for cows and a lack of milk. Until 2013, there were no floods in the Far East with such consequences.

Help in a difficult situation

Flooding in the Far East, the photo of which shocked millions of people, made me worry. You can’t be prepared for a catastrophe, so the flood scared absolutely all the local residents. Many people rushed to support the victims and help them. The flood (Far East) left a huge number of people without a place of residence and means of subsistence. Humanitarian aid and funds for people affected by the floods were collected, one might say, by the whole world. Various enterprises, organizations, ordinary people from different regions of Russia, as well as foreign countries took part in this process. At the very beginning of September 2013, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus provided the victims with 43 tons of various canned food and baby food. A month later, another delivery arrived from Belarus with help in the form of 100 tons of flour and 50 tons of stew. At the end of September, 35 tons of food, clothing and bedding arrived from St. Petersburg. Employees of the UMMC of the Sverdlovsk region collected 45 tons of humanitarian aid. The Astrakhan police also did not remain indifferent and helped the victims with cash in the amount of 5.5 million rubles. Also 11 million rubles. received from the Volgograd police. One million yen donated from Niagara governmentflood victims in the Khabarovsk Territory. These, of course, are not all examples, at that time almost everyone was ready to help.