Weather chaos in Germany: Why red dominates the new storm warnings!

Weather chaos in Germany: Why red dominates the new storm warnings!

In summer temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius, the weather maps in Germany shine deep red, and at 30 degrees or higher temperatures they even appear in a more threatening dark red. These intensive shades are currently causing discussions and excitement, especially on social media, where users compare the pronouncements of the past with the current visual interpretations. Against this background, differences in the color representation between Germany and Switzerland are clearly recognizable: While high temperatures with dramatic red tones are signaled in Germany, Swiss weather maps use yellow and orange tones to convey a less alarming mood. This means that German weather maps often give the impression of an impending danger, while the Swiss representation is more reserved and arouses fewer emotions.

Silke Hansen, the head of the weather editor of the Hessischer Rundfunk, explains that there has been a uniform concept for the weather presentation in Germany since 2020. The design of the weather graphics was adapted to the Tagesschau , which leads to uniform aesthetics. Instead of cloud symbols, a cloud film is used to transmit the information. This should not only increase the visual consistency, but also improve the user -friendliness of the weather reports.

Functional color selection or panic meter?

The graduate meteorologist Dominik Jung also suffered personal attacks in the debate about the intensely red-colored weather maps and emphasizes that the choice of colors does not serve to panic. Rather, it is functional in order to make weather dangers clearly visible. Jung emphasizes that modern weather graphics are often based on so -called "heat maps" that represent temperature ranges with precise color gradients. Although the presentation has a concern for many, the perception of the color intensity is strongly context -dependent.

How visual perception works is explained by the way light of objects is reflected. The human eyes have between 120 and 250 million visual cells, but less than five percent are sensitive to light and can generate color signals. An interest in the content shown means that viewers ask questions such as: What is it? Where is it? Such questions influence the formation of objects in visual perception and can increase the impression of drama or danger. However, these processes are not only biological, but also cultural, which means that the meaning of colors can vary in different contexts, as the example of the weather representations demonstrates.

color and perception

The perception of colors is also influenced by physiological factors and individual differences. Differences in the cornea or the tap sensitivity can lead to different color perceptions. For example, the phenomenon #thedress shows that different viewers can perceive the same dress in different colors-some see it in blue-black, others in white gold. Such individual perceptions can also explain why the intensely red weather maps in Germany are so polarized.

summarized can be said that the current discussion about weather representations touches not only technical, but also deeply rooted psychological and cultural questions. The way in which colors are perceived and interpreted is a complex interplay of biological reactions and social contexts.