Floods in Saint Petersburg
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Floods in Saint Petersburg are water rise in delta of Neva River and eastern part of Neva Bay, which cause flood of some of territory of Saint Petersburg.
Floods are caused by several factors: arising in Baltics cyclones with prevalence of west winds cause rise of "slow" matched Kelvin wave and its movement towards Neva creek, where it meets moving in the opposite direction natural river flow. Water rise lifts because of shoal and flatness of bottom in Neva Bay and narrowing of Gulf of Finland near delta. Also seiches, onsets and another factors contribute to floods.
In the beginning of XVIII century central part of the city was flooded by the water rise of only 130-150 centimeters. Most dangerous are territories adjacent to Neva and Neva Bay. Building embankments, road pavings contribute to struggle against floods. In present, floods are considered as water rise of more than 160 centimeters over ordinare (level of water-gauge located at Gorny Institute). Floods with water rise under 210 cm are considered as dangerous, under 299 cm - specially dangerous, over 300 cm - catastrophic.
In 1979 construction of dam (Leningrad Flood Prevention Facility Complex) has begun, but in 90s it was frozen. In present objective to finish construction in 2008 is set by president of Russia.
Most prominent floods occurred in 1824 (November 7 (19), 421 cm over ordinare), 1924 (September 23, 380 cm), 1777 (September 10 (21), 321 cm), 1955 (October 15, 293 cm), 1975 (September 29, 281 cm). From 1703 to 2003 324 floods were recorded (more than 160 cm), 210 of them with rise more 210 cm. In some years multiple floods occurred (five in 1752), calm periods happened (1729-1732 и 1744-1752).
The most recent flood occurred in October 29, 2006[1]. The water rise of 224 cm was noted at 5:45. Because of it Sportivnaya metro station was closed from 6:20 to 7:30 to prevent water penetration into tunnels.
[edit] References
- Нежиховский Р. А. Река Нева и Невская губа.— Л.: Гидрометеоиздат, 1981.
- Померанец К. С. Три века петербургских наводнений. — СПб.: «Искусство-СПБ», 2005. ISBN 5-210-01578-5
