Excursion A

"The 1997 Oder river flood and early warning"

Date:
Sunday, 06.09.1998

Departure:
09:00h from the lobby of Hotel Mercure in Potsdam.

Arrival:
at around 19:00h at Hotel Mercure in Potsdam.

Tour guides:
Prof. Dr. Mathias Freude, Landesumweltamt Brandenburg, Potsdam Dr. Wolfgang Rosenthal, GKSS Research Centre, Geesthacht

This one day bus tour will bring the participants to some of the original sites of the 1997 Oder flood hazard, which has lead to tremendous damage in Poland and Germany. The disaster was caused by improper land use, poor preparedness and a very exceptional meteorological situation. The images of broken dams and the rescue services desperately striving to save people's lives and property were spread by the media and went throughout the world. While the clean up and repair works are still under way, possible changes in land use policy as well as the now ongoing research and implementation of an internationally organised flood early warning system for the whole Oder river system are discussed in detail.

• Excursion B:
  "Earth observation and data communication facilities of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in and around Berlin"
  
  
• Excursion C:
  "Early Warning Systems in the coastal zone of Northern Germany and in the Krümmel nuclear plant near Hamburg"