This Unassuming Structure Might Be Nature’s Best Defense Mechanism
September 10, 2024
source: Reddit
At rest among trees and the river, a river height gauge looks like nothing special but is in fact a very important structure. Despite its rather unassuming structure, it carries a great importance in the management of river waters, and offers protection to the neighboring populations against the caprices of the elements. These gauges provide real time information on the water levels in the river thus enabling the forecasts of floods and enabling the people living along the river bank to prepare for floods before they become a menace.
In the past, river height gauges were simple wooden posts with measurements on them. In the course of time, weapons transformed into highly developed tools that had sensors and telemetry systems. Today’s gauges, as the one shown in this image, send the collected information to weather stations and environmental departments and give real-time readings of water levels. These instruments are especially very vital in flood affected regions where a slight increase in water level can be devastating to houses and farm lands.
Besides their practical application, the river height gauges are symbols of our relationship with the environment. Although such technologies as remote monitoring make it convenient to check the water level, it is impossible not to pay attention to these gauges that are located in the natural environment. Sited at the river banks they work as silent guardians, observing the river and monitoring its activity. In a certain way, they are both a link which connects the human vision of the world with the natural one and a realization of how despite our efforts to dominate our environment, it still controls us.
It may be seen as rather romantic to those who grew up around rivers and the like, these gauges may bring back memories. They were usually used by the locals to know whether they should prepare for floods or not or whether they could just relax by the water. It was therefore the duty of certain people in the community to check on the gauge and inform the rest of the population in many small towns. Such readings became a part of a daily routine and the fluctuations of the river levels were observed as a part of the natural cycle.
With the effects of climate change resulting to extreme and frequent weather conditions, the use of river height gauges cannot be underestimated. The data they give can be used to defend human settlements, but also the natural environment which is located in river areas. Such information can then be used by environmental agencies to issue flood alerts and warnings to the people as well as other living beings to prepare for the change and even move to safer grounds.
It is true that river height gauges are not given much attention but they remain the silent observers of the natural changes. In their own gentle manner, they remind people how fine is the line that divides man from the rest of nature. The next time you cross one of these structures think about their importance in the protection against the uncontrollable natural force of the river stream.