Wall Street Journal satellite images show Rhine, Danube, Po at historic lows
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Wall Street Journal satellite images show major European rivers at historic lows. Romania's Cernavoda nuclear plant has halted and Hungary's Paks is near halting; Rhine barge freight is moving at a fraction of capacity. The drought is also pushing Adriatic saltwater into the Po River basin.
Key Facts
- Wall Street Journal satellite analysis shows water levels in European rivers fell faster than a year earlier.
- Romania's Cernavoda nuclear plant, which supplies about 20% of Romania's electricity, halted in mid-August after the Danube fell too low for cooling.
- Hungary's Paks nuclear plant, providing about 40% of Hungary's electricity, is on the verge of halting due to water shortages.
- Rhine cargo ships are running at only 20% of capacity, and the river at Kaub, Germany, fell to 24 cm, with some points below 8 cm.
- The Po River's retreat has drawn saltwater from the Adriatic Sea into the riverbed, threatening farmland and crops.
Nuclear Plant Shutdowns
The Danube's extreme low left Romania's only nuclear plant unable to meet its cooling water needs. Cernavoda, which supplies about 20% of Romania's electricity, halted operations in mid-August. Army efforts using explosives to divert more water to the plant failed to restore operations. Hungary's Paks nuclear plant, source of about 40% of the country's electricity, is on the verge of halting production because of water shortages.
Satellite Evidence and Economic Impact
Satellite images published by the Wall Street Journal show European river levels fell far faster than in the same period last year. Cargo ships on the Rhine are moving at only 20% of capacity because of the low water. At Kaub, Germany, the river level fell to 24 centimetres, and in places below 8 centimetres, making barge voyages economically unviable. The Po River's retreat has allowed Adriatic saltwater to advance into the riverbed and threaten farmland and crops.
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Wall Street Journal satellite images show Rhine, Danube, Po at historic lows
