A genetic disorder linked to fatal muscle contractions during anesthesia may also be connected to heat stroke, according to new research. The study found that antioxidants could protect against heat stroke in genetically prone individuals.
Cyanobacteria blooms are becoming more frequent and widespread due to global warming, posing a threat to human health and water ecosystems. The algae can cause digestive, neurological, and skin diseases in humans, and deplete oxygen in water reservoirs.
Researchers found that smaller spatial resolutions are necessary for accurate modeling of soil water dynamics, especially at large scales. The critical limit for grid resolution can be estimated using soil water retention characteristics, and is typically on the order of decimeters or millimeters.
Scientists at UEA found intense rainfall events increasing in UK's winter and spring seasons, reversing summer trend. Heavy summer rainfall returns after 1990s decrease, impacting flood risk and extreme weather events.
A Northwestern University professor is studying rivers to understand how organic carbon is processed and consumed by microorganisms, revealing that it's a bigger component of global carbon cycling than thought. The study provides a framework for assessing these processes and sheds light on the internal cycling of carbon in rivers.
Global water planning faces a fundamental shift due to changing climate patterns. Water managers must adapt to new, unpredictable conditions that challenge traditional approaches. The authors propose a revised framework incorporating shifting averages and variability.
Global climate models project significant changes in water availability due to anthropogenic warming, with regions like high latitudes and Mediterranean basin expected to experience substantial decreases. Non-stationarity must be accounted for in water resources planning to ensure effective management.
California's Central Valley faces significant risk of floods with extensive loss of life and billions in damages. The University of Maryland engineers recommend a comprehensive flood-risk abatement strategy focusing on land-use planning and ecosystem restoration.
A team of Chilean and IRD scientists found that the Pacific seaboard experienced significant cooling between 1820 and 1878 due to a large continent-ocean temperature contrast. This discovery sheds new light on El Niño's variability, which may intensify in a warming world.
Researchers have found that muds can accumulate even when currents move swiftly, contradicting long-held assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for harbor and canal engineering, oil reservoir management, and fossil fuel prospecting.
More than 200 leading climate scientists have warned the need for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Bali Climate Declaration calls on governments to limit global warming to below 2 degrees C by stabilising CO2 levels at well below 450ppm CO2e.
Researchers found that stress hormone noradrenaline suppresses pain inputs from the brainstem, reducing neurotransmitter launch and triggering nerve impulses. The study provides important mechanistic clues to understanding stress-induced analgesia.
A study by Rafael Reuveny examines the impact of climate change on population migration and conflict. He advocates for a five-step approach to minimize climate change-induced migration and violent conflict in receiving areas.
Researchers found that vaccinating half of a population can reduce cholera cases by 89% in unvaccinated individuals and 93% overall. Mass vaccination is a viable strategy to control endemic cholera outbreaks.
The Swiss Experiment brings together experts to tackle climate change, natural hazards, and sustainable resource use with innovative data collection and analysis. The project aims to improve models predicting floods, avalanches, and landslides, while documenting environmental degradation and change.
A new analysis highlights the need for federal and state support to enable local governments to work effectively with communities to prepare for and respond to all disasters. Local organizations often lack resources and training, making it essential for local government officials to take a proactive role in disaster preparedness.
Researchers have identified 20 major European carp breeding hot spots in Australia's Murray Darling Basin, which could be targeted for control measures to reduce carp numbers in regional waterways. The study found that heavy rain and floods enable the carp to disperse their larvae, supporting the larval drift theory.
The USGS Coalition will host a congressional reception to highlight the importance of increased funding for the USGS in the FY 2008 budget. The event aims to promote responsible natural resource stewardship and improve resilience to natural hazards.
Floods of '93 and '95 devastated 70% of snake populations, with larger snakes and arboreal species faring better. Ecologist Owen Sexton proposes 'islands in the stream' to provide sanctuaries for displaced species during future floods.
Research finds strong correlation between cholera outbreaks and climate changes, including rainfall and Indian Oscillation Index. The study provides basis for early warning system and prevention measures.
Recent advancements in remote sensing technologies, such as lidar and high fidelity imaging spectroscopy, enable researchers to study ecological systems at multiple levels. These tools provide essential information for characterizing landscape dynamics and quantifying ecosystem functions related to biogeochemical cycling.
A NASA researcher has created a new method to anticipate food shortages brought on by drought using satellite remote sensing of crop growth and food prices. The model can help humanitarian aid organizations and decision makers predict how much food will be available and its cost, taking climate variables into account.
NASA provided critical soil moisture data for affected areas, enabling emergency response teams to track flash flooding and stage rescue efforts. The sensor's detailed maps helped officials predict future flooding risks and avoid casualties.
A pilot forecasting program in Bangladesh is delivering 1- to 10-day forecasts directly to over 100,000 people living on floodplains, alerting them to potential floods. The system uses a combination of weather forecast models, satellite observations, and hydrologic modeling techniques to predict flooding.
A NASA researcher has developed a new method to anticipate food shortages brought on by drought using satellite remote sensing of crop growth and food prices. The model can help government and humanitarian aid officials plan and respond to drought-induced food price increases, reducing the risk of famine.
Climate models predict the West Antarctic ice sheet and Arctic sea ice will collapse due to continued global warming. The researchers estimate that additional global warming of 1ºC above 2000 levels is likely to be 'dangerous'.
Geologists at PNNL have identified 62 sites with known or suspected mammoth finds, verifying and collecting material from eight locations, including two this spring. Preliminary results suggest most mammoths were buried in the Lake Lewis area at elevations of 600-1,000 feet.
Researchers use a new technique to analyze rainfall trends, finding systematic patterns in heavy and light rain, but no consistent trend in moderate rain. The study resolves the challenge of detecting long-term global rainfall trends, providing insight into climate change's impact on weather events.
The study challenges conventional thought on sediment transport in the GBR, showing large plumes of terrestrial material traveling up to 65-130km beyond the inner reef. This poses new risks for reef corals and highlights the need for rethinking hydrological modeling.
The AAAS Board has released its first consensus statement on global climate change, confirming that human activities are causing the Earth's temperature to rise. The statement emphasizes the urgent need for action to address this growing threat to society, citing rapid melting of glaciers and sea level rises.
Floods and aging infrastructure threaten the nation's drinking water safety, with inadequate monitoring and poor watershed protection being major concerns. According to MSU expert Joan Rose, combining sewer systems and climate change increase the risk of waterborne illnesses, especially in vulnerable communities.
Researchers collected river water and sediment samples from Alaskan rivers during spring floods to study interactions with the coastal Beaufort Sea. The study found variations in river composition and flow, as well as under-ice mixing with sea ice and seawater.
A geologist and his collaborator analyzed Lewis and Clark's data, finding the Missouri River has narrowed and its water levels have become more variable. This narrowing creates an increased risk of damaging floods, as well as fluctuations in day-to-day and seasonal water levels.
The ESSP's Monsoon Asia Integrated Regional Study aims to understand the effects of human activities on the monsoon system in the region. The study will explore how changes in land use, water resources, and urbanization affect the monsoon circulation system.
The new website provides frequent updates on changing ocean temperatures, with two primary types of data: actual temperature readings and sea surface temperature anomalies. Sea surface temperature changes can influence climate, weather, and hurricane patterns, making the website a valuable tool for scientists.
NASA's Aqua and Jason satellites have observed a general warming of ocean temperatures and a rise in sea surface heights in the central and eastern Pacific along the equator, indicating El Niño development. The current El Niño signal is far less dramatic than that seen during the start of the last major El Niño episode in 1997-1998.
Researchers have successfully bred flood-tolerant California rice by introducing submergence tolerance genes into the crop. This breakthrough allows rice plants to survive short-term floods, benefiting rice farmers globally.
Researchers from the University of Bristol warn that Eurasia, eastern China, Canada, Central America, and Amazonia are at risk of forest loss due to global warming. The team predicts more intense droughts in West Africa, southern Europe, and the eastern USA, while regions north of 50°N will face excessive runoff and flooding.
A gene that enables rice to survive complete submergence has been identified, allowing for development of new rice varieties that can withstand flooding. The discovery is expected to increase food security for 70 million poor people and reduce yield losses from weeds in areas like the United States.
Researchers use digital maps to examine flood landscapes and calculate energy and mechanisms needed to generate shapes. Outburst floods pose a major hazard in mountainous areas, with global warming expected to alter flood sizes and frequencies.
Researchers found that beaver dams enhance hydrologic processes during peak flow and low flow periods, creating environments suitable for wetland formation and persistence. The study suggests that beavers play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem diversity by altering river systems worldwide.
Researchers using ERS-2's radar altimetry and InSAR found anomalies in ice-sheet surface elevation, suggesting large floods of water from deep within the ice may have generated huge floods that reached the ocean. The discovery raises concerns about ancient life in subglacial lakes.
Researchers have discovered rivers beneath the ice in Antarctica, moving water hundreds of miles under the surface. The findings suggest that these lakes could support microbial life and potentially release large floods that could affect ocean circulation.
The study found a pattern of steady cooling in the EEP over 5 million years, with temperatures dropping by roughly one degree Celsius every million years. The research suggests that ocean regions near Antarctica were the main driver of EEP cooling, contradicting previous theories about rapid glacier growth in high northern latitudes.
A tiny packet containing a grayish powder has been shown to dramatically reduce diarrheal deaths caused by contaminated water. The system, called PUR Purifier of Water, can kill deadly pathogens and remove toxic metals, and is now being distributed globally for free
The study finds that healthy ecosystems can mitigate the effects of disasters like landslides and floods. Mainstreaming sustainable biodiversity management into policy decisions may reverse ecosystem degradation trends.
A study reviewed over 100 scientific studies and found that the global water cycle is intensifying, with increasing precipitation, runoff, and evapotranspiration. However, the effects on tropical storms and floods are not consistent with predictions.
Global warming is likely to change river flows in ways that may result in both increased flood risk and water shortages. The predictions assume atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration doubles from preindustrial levels, leading to higher winter-time river flows and lower spring and summer flows.
A study found that hazard mitigation grants can save up to $14 billion over 10 years by reducing property damage and loss of life. The grants also help reduce tax revenue losses due to economic disruption caused by natural hazards.
Climate change is exacerbating landslides worldwide, particularly in Asia and the Americas, resulting in significant human and financial losses. International experts propose various strategies to mitigate landslide risks, including land use planning, building codes, and infrastructure development.
The Paraguay River Basin, home to the Pantanal wetlands, faces critical threats from agriculture, cattle grazing, and coal mining. Deforestation has already destroyed almost 45% of the original vegetation, with some areas losing over 90%. Conservation efforts are needed to protect the region's biodiversity and ecosystems.
Research reveals that drought-stressed soils create an environment conducive to the spread of fungal disease by predatory periwinkles, which graze on cordgrass. This top-down approach to salt marsh ecology challenges long-held assumptions about the main causes of marsh die-off.
A new European study predicts increased flooding in areas like the UK and River Rhine by up to 50% and 25% respectively by the end of the century. The STARDEX project uses advanced statistical techniques to analyze climate trends, enabling more precise predictions of extreme weather events.
A synthesis report reveals climate change's growing health impacts vary by region, with coastlines and sub-Saharan Africa particularly at risk. The report highlights the need for global leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable energy policies.
A team of experts is investigating the damage caused by wind-driven waves and overtopping, as well as emergency patch effectiveness and decision-making processes behind levee configurations. The study aims to improve levee design to withstand potential terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Climate models predict a rapid increase in global temperatures and sea level rise of up to 30cm, with severe consequences for agriculture, ecosystems, and extreme weather events. The study also highlights the impact of human activity on the climate, fuelling global warming.
A new weather model, ARW, uses high-resolution data to predict hurricane intensity and location of fine-scale rain bands. This enables better warning systems for floods, power outages, and road blockage.
A growing coastal population is set to experience more frequent and intense natural disasters due to climate change. Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangrove forests can provide natural barriers and absorb the impact of these disasters, whereas man-made structures are less effective.
Cornell researchers presented several studies on ecological issues, including a new study that found fruit-eating fish in South America may become extinct due to overfishing. Another study revealed that coral-disease systems are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, with small changes having significant impacts on the ecosystem.
A recent study suggests that better hospital resource management and staff training are crucial in responding effectively to disasters. The study emphasizes the need for improved communication, planning, and education among hospitals to ensure a more efficient exchange of resources during critical situations.