Introduction to Belgium
Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for medieval towns, Renaissance architecture and as headquarters of the European Union and NATO. Belgium is situated in the west of Europe, bordered to the north by the Netherlands, to the east by Germany and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to the south and the west of France. It is divided into three regions that include Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels.
It is a low-lying country, with a broad coastal plain extending in a southeasterly direction form the North Sea. Belgium physical geography has three main geographical regions which include the coastal plain in the north-west, the central plateau, and the Ardennes uplands in the south-east. Within these coastal plains it consists mainly of sand dunes and polders. The climate in Belgium is mostly considered maritime temperate with mild winters and cool summers.
Tectonic Plate Boundaries Of Belgium
Seismic Activity & Earthquakes
Belgium Volcanic Activity
Belgium volcanic activity is classified as medium. This means that Belgium is located at less than 50 km from a volcano for which potentially damaging eruption has been recorded in the past 10,000 years and future damaging eruptions are possible. Researchers have found that some parts of Belgium have an active volcanic system and is much more seismically active than many of the faults in Europe between the Eiffel volcanic region and the Alps. With this study they found that their is still subtle movements in the Earth’s crust which are unexpected, and suggest that the region is still volcanically active. The last record of a volcanic activity in Belgium was 10-20 thousand years ago which was due to The Volcanic Eiffel which stretches from the Rhine to the Wittlich Depression. It is bordered in the south and southwest by the South Eiffel, in the west by Luxembourg and Belgian Ardennes. Belgium has a list of recommendations to help warn people such as a Early Warning Action which ensures the project can act on volcanic early warnings. Technical Expertise that engage in qualified local or international volcanologist to investigates the volcanic hazards in the project area in more depth. The government of Belgium also helped livestock keepers in Saint Vincent keep their animals healthy and safe from the ongoing activity of volcano in La Soufriere. Belgiums contribution to the Anticipatory Action window of FAQ’s Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities allowed the Organization to act quickly, releasing more than 100,000 USD to protect livestock keepers and their animals before the impact of volcano eruptions lead to a food crisis for vulnerable communities.
Belgiums Mass Wasting Hazards
Belgiums mass wasting hazards include two case studies of landslides that occurred in the Flemish Ardennes and the Pays de Herve. Most landslides in Belgium, and especially the largest features, do not occur in the Ardennes, where the relief energy and the climate conditions seem more favorable. They develop on slopes that are relatively smooth, and their magnitude is pretty large. Twenty-seven percent of all landslides are shallow complex landslides that sho signs of recent activity. The Flemish Government only started taking account of slope failures as a soil degradation process after the occurrence of several damaging landslides in the beginning of the 21st century. Belgium has successfully collaborated between the Physical and Regional Geography Research Group and the Environment, Nature and Energy Departments in landslide management. They help demonstrate how geomorphologists produced practical tools for landslide management which can be directly applied by LNE as well as other local and regional authorities and planners.
Belgiums Extreme Weather Events
Extreme weather events started with climate change in Belgium. Over the course of the 20th century, there were very marked and quite severe increases in seasonal and annual temperatures (in the order of 1c) during two periods, firstly during the first half of the 20th century and then in the 1980s. The frequency of heat waves shows a significant upward trend towards the middle of the 1990s. Heat waves in recent years are similar to those observed in the 1940s, following the warmer summer temperatures observed during the first part of the 20th century. When rainfall records began, Brussels region has seen an increase of roughly 7% in annual rainfall that was highly significant with rises of around 15% in winter and spring. Over the past 50 years in the country, most climatological stations have revealed a trend towards significant or highly significant increases of annual extremes of rainfall extending over several days, this type of extreme precipitation event usually occurs in winter. Summer days are long with it often staying light until 2230 and temperatures reaching 25-30 C, intermingled with occasional drizzly days. Heat waves are becoming more frequent in mid-August. Winter days are short, with darkness falling around 1700. Winds blowing from the North Pole can be biting, especially on the coast, can push the temperature down to -5 C; snow is fairly common in January. The climate of Belgium is cool and wet because it is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, especially on the coast and the plain. In the south-eastern regions (Ardennes), which are located at the higher altitudes as well as at a greater distance from the sea. The climate is more continental, and also more unstable in the summer.
By 2030, Belgium aims to raise the renewable energy share in electricity 37.4 percent, transport 23.7 percent and heating and cooling 11.3 percent. This is to be achieved by investments in wind and photovoltaic energy production, biofuels and the use of waste heat. Belgium has taken an active position in the enviornmental arena, improving its air quality and implanting various climate policies.
Coastal Hazards in Belgium
The Belgian coastline is 67 km, of which 33 km are dunes and the rest is built-up area and harbors. A large part of the coastline has been subject to erosion for several decades. Groins have been built to restrict the erosion by currents and waves. Since the 1960 beach nourishments have been carried out regularly to compensate for the erosion at almost 20 km of the coastline. Beach erosion is variable: some beaches are stable, a small fraction is growing, but the majority has been eroding continuously for a long time. Erosion, heavy rainfall, storms and rising sea levels due to climate change are fueling fears for the medium-term survival of this part of prosperous Flanders. The shape of the Belgian coastline, a segment of the concave eastern shore of the North Sea running up from France towards the Frisian Islands, makes it even more fragile.
Belgian defense approach is best characterized by massive hard engineering such as groins, breakwaters and sea walls, but artificial nourishment has become a preferred strategy in recent decades. The Flemish authorities aim to keep the protection line at the Belgian North Sea coast. The Flemish authorities are expecting a SLR of about 6 mm year by 2050 and 10 mm between 2050-2100 at the Belgian coast.
Belgiums civil engineering company Jan De Nul has started dredging and beach replenishment works along the Flemish Coast, these replenishments works are part of the Belgian and Public Martime and Coastal Services Agency’s wider project to protect the North Sea shoreline from coastal erosion and flooding.
Dangerous Disasters in Belgium
One of the most dangerous natural disasters in Belgium has been caused by a major flood. In 2021 this major flooding and severe weather has cost the lives of at least 31 people, while 127 others are still “presumed missing or unaccounted for.” A lot of this type of flooding Belgium is experiencing has to do with climate change. The combination of extremely heavy rainfall and a slow-moving storm from is what is most likely contributing to the flooding. Intermittent heavy rainfall occurred elsewhere across Europe, causing flooding and enormous damages in Germany and Belgium.
According to a rapid attribution study by an international team of climate scientist, also found that such downpours in the region are now 3-19 percent heavier because of human-caused warming. I am addressing this as a priority because floods have been very common for Belgium and it has caused a lot of damage and death due to climate change causing these floods. I feel like many don’t know how much these types of floods can truly damage a country and each year flooding causes more deaths than any other hazard related to thunderstorms. They also cause more than 40 billion in damages worldwide annually. This can cause a major natural hazard crisis.
Some recommendations I have to address flooding hazards is to evacuate areas that are subject to flooding such as low spots, canyons, washes, and etc. If you need to evacuate, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve. It is also important to learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans, and flash flood response especially if you’re in a very common flood area in your country. Now it is also important to note that when building or moving into a new country or uncommon area it is important to research the types of natural hazards their is in the area you are in. This can help prevent the risk of damages in your home. It is also important to note that natural hazards are common in a multitude of ways throughout every country you cant prevent it from happening, but you can keep yourself and your family prepared for it. Keep an eye out of early warning and alerts in your area during a natural hazard and always keep yourself aware of what’s happening.
The most risky location for flooding in Belgium would be in the western part of the country. Liege a city in Belgium has faced massive floods causing street pavements to burst open, houses flattened, and entire villages were destroyed in what was described as one of the worst flooding disasters to hit Western Europe. Water from the Meuse river overflowed into parts of the city, prompting city officials to call for residents to evacuate the area or seek higher ground. Parts of the southern French speaking region of Belgium, is also a risky location for flooding as its particularly hard-hit by the new floods. Many of the families living in these areas for most of their lives have never experienced this type of damage within their cities and it was upsetting too see the damages and death due to these floods.
If I were to construct my house in a part of Belgium it would be Durbuy. Durbuy is a town in eastern Belgium, known as the. “ smallest town” on earth with a population of 500. It would be a perfect area to construct a home due to its environment, its not prone to any flooding and its medieval village. Even though its known as the smallest town on earth it is one of the most fantastic destinations for families to visit. Most of the families living in Durbuy have half timbered houses and you’re able to walk from one side to the other in about 5 minutes due to the size of the town. You’re able to do nature activities such as hiking, golfing, mountain biking, climbing, walking, kayaking, and fishing. Their has been no activity of natural disasters in this town.
Resources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium
Picture 3: https://earthhow.com/eurasian-plate/
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This was an amazing introduction to your country!-Welcome.
ReplyDeleteHi Janesa, I really enjoyed reading your blog Belgium is a place I would love to visit. Is there usually earth quakes ?
ReplyDeleteHi Janesa, I thought your post was well written and informative. It's very interesting to me how efficient Belgium was when it comes to implementing preparedness plans and redesigning infrastructure. This is especially interesting to me because Belgium hadn’t even been struck by a recent natural disaster, it was a hazard in India that propped this change. This is very different from how my country has gone about natural disaster preparedness. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteI accidentally replied anonymously, this is Noah Tofan. Sorry!
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