Hochwasser-«Katastrophen» in Basel vom 13. bis 21. Jahrhundert Rekonstruktion, Deutung und Lerneffekte

Wetter, Oliver (2012). Hochwasser-«Katastrophen» in Basel vom 13. bis 21. Jahrhundert Rekonstruktion, Deutung und Lerneffekte. In: Krisen. Ursachen, Deutungen und Folgen. Schweizerisches Jahrbuch für Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte: Vol. 27 (pp. 47-64). Zürich: Chronos

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Magnitudes of peak discharges of 43 non-instrumentally measured Rhine river
floods at Basel were reconstructed. The methodology is based on a range of different
historic sources, containing flood information (including traditional urban
inundation reference points from flood reports of medieval and early modern
period chroniclers as well as 19th century journalists, flood marks, paintings
and drawings, town maps, longitudinal and cross profiles etc.). These traditional
pre-instrumental “flood information systems” still existed in the 19th century,
when in 1808 the first instrumental hydrological measurements started. They
thus could be calibrated with instrumental measurements in the 19th century
overlapping period. The result is a 743 year long quantified Rhine river flood
series. Floods of both periods (pre-instrumental as well as instrumental) can thus
be directly compared for the very first time. The long-range consequences of
rivers Kander and Aare deviations in 1714 and 1878 are reflected in a distinct
change of magnitudes of peak discharges in Basel. A clear flood “disaster gap”
appears in the 20th century. The lack of any extreme floods for such a long time
is completely unique during the 743-year period of analysis. This result will
influence the statistical assessment of once-in-a-century events, which might be
of great interest for insurance campanies.

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