The stele presents scientific insights into the dynamics of the flood, including a visualization of flow velocity along the river during the event, based on flood simulations conducted by Norick Peters. The map shows that downstream of the bridge, in the central part of the river channel, average flow velocities of around 5 m/s occurred during the flood. These extremely high velocities help explain the destructive force of the floodwaters, which caused severe damage throughout the village. In total, the flood damaged or destroyed around 260 houses in Ahrbrück, including the parish house, the church, and the Ahr bridge itself.
The analysis originates from the bachelor’s thesis of Norick Peters, which examined how bridges influence the extent and dynamics of historical floods in the Ahr Valley. The study simulated the 2016 and 2021 flood events using measured and reconstructed gauge data as reference scenarios and compared additional scenarios with different bridge conditions to assess how bridge structures and debris accumulation affect flood dynamics and inundation patterns. The thesis was supervised by Dr. Pınar Pamukçu Albers at the Ecohydrology and Water Resources Management Research Group, Department of Geography.
The inclusion of this research in the memorial highlights the important role of scientific analysis in understanding extreme events and supporting collective memory and resilience. By translating scientific findings into accessible visual information, the stele provides visitors and local residents with insight into the magnitude and mechanisms of the disaster and underscores the importance of improved flood preparedness in the future.