Low water levels impacting traffic on the Rhine river

These images, acquired by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 28 June 2022 and 8 July 2023, show the impact of drought on the Rhine river in the area of Koblenz, Germany. This waterway plays an important role in Europe's inland transport, handling approximately 75 percent of all goods transported by this method.

Currently, the water level in Kaub, a town located 30 km southeastern of Koblenz, is just over one metre, which is considered critical. If the water level drops below 30 centimetres, it becomes impossible for large vessels to navigate through the Kaub bottleneck.

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites provide free and open data that can be used to monitor droughts and their impact on ecosystems and infrastructure.

Source: 

Copernicus. (2023e, July 11). Low water levels impacting traffic on the Rhine river. Image of the Day.