A group of scientists, lawyers, conservationists, economists, and policymakers came together at Stanford to discuss novel ways to market ecosystem services. The workshop aimed to protect the ecosystem by putting an economic value on its less tangible services, such as water purification and flood control.
Deleting the b1 subunit of the BK channel in mice causes high blood pressure and enlarged hearts, suggesting it as a promising target for anti-hypertension drugs. The study provides a new model for investigating the molecular basis of hypertension.
The Dartmouth Flood Observatory uses satellite images from NASA's Terra spacecraft to pinpoint flooded areas and provide precise mapping accuracy, aiding United Nations World Food Program staff. The new composite surface images have been used to identify the worst-hit areas of the current flooding in Southeast Asia.
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal examines the effects of global warming on world health, highlighting direct and indirect impacts. The authors conclude that reducing fossil fuel combustion and advocating for environmental improvements are essential to mitigate these risks.
Aging South Dakota windbreaks are in need of renovation, posing increased risk to agriculture from wind damage. Well-developed forested riparian areas reduce nitrogen in groundwater by up to 100% and surface runoff by up to 98%.
Scientists have found that sea surface temperatures in Atlantic, Pacific, and Western Pacific oceans significantly impact rainfall patterns in the Amazon. Sea surface temperatures play a crucial role in predicting drought or floods in the region.
The Landsat 7 spacecraft has acquired over 50,000 scenes of the Earth's surface, providing detailed images of natural disasters, unique weather patterns, and glacial changes. The satellite's data will support global change research and inform decision-making about environmental issues.
Millions of defective low-rise buildings in the US lead to high annual losses from windstorms, with recent hurricanes causing $70 billion in damages. A symposium aims to develop a national plan for wind-hazard mitigation and improve building codes.
Research indicates the Indian Ocean has its own El Niño-like phenomenon characterized by an east-to-west oscillation of warm waters affecting other parts of the world. The study found significant warming of the western portion of the Indian Ocean in 16 out of 48 years between 1950 and 1998, but only three were active El Niño years.
Researchers have uncovered clues to the cause, timing and evolution of the massive East Asian summer monsoon. The study found a connection between the disastrous 1998 Yangtze River flood and the timing and strength of the summer monsoon.
Researchers at Georgia Tech are testing the Next Generation Warning Decision Support System (NG-WDSS) to improve tornado forecasting and warning times. The system uses advanced image processing, artificial intelligence, and other algorithms to provide more efficient and effective warnings for severe thunderstorms and flash floods.
An international team led by the University of Colorado at Boulder is studying the South Asian summer monsoon, a region that affects 65% of the world's population. The six-week expedition aims to understand the basic physics behind these variations and predict them, enabling drought or flood warnings for affected regions.
Certain plant species can trigger an adaptive reaction to flooding by producing life-saving shoots, but the exact process is unclear. Dutch biologists hope to unravel this process at the physiological and molecular level to develop crops that can cope with floods.
Climate forecasts can have a mixed impact on different groups, with benefits for large fishing companies and losses for small-scale fishermen. Researchers are calling for better dissemination of climate information to address these issues.
A study found that US natural disaster planning is poorly implemented, with only 20% of available funds spent on mitigation projects. Researchers recommend improving hazard reduction planning through infrastructure development, land use planning, and environmental protection.
The National Water Initiative aims to address the US water crisis through collaboration among universities, states, and federal agencies. The initiative proposes decentralized research work at the state level, with $250 million in new funding for results-oriented research.
Human sperm contain receptors for cannabinoids, which can inhibit the acrosome reaction, regulate swimming patterns, and prevent sperm binding to the egg. The study found that marijuana-like compounds can significantly alter these processes, with implications for diagnosis of infertility and understanding human biology.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a model to predict refugee migrations, identifying long-term root causes such as weak governments and economic dependence. The model also finds that large migrations are often preceded by generalized violence or civil wars.
Scientists have gained a clearer picture of massive volcanic eruptions by analyzing lava composition, indicating that the lava originated from the lower mantle. The findings suggest that the eruptions played a role in the greatest mass extinction event in Earth's history, wiping out up to 95% of plant and animal species.
A study by Penn State economists suggests that climate change could lead to an increase in waterborne diseases like Cryptosporidiosis, which can be fatal among immunocompromised individuals. The researchers estimate that doubling the frequency of 100-year floods could add up to $70 per person in costs.
The U.S. Geological Survey presents a forum on reducing losses from natural disasters, featuring California's experience in earthquake risk management and mitigation. The event aims to share lessons learned from the Northridge earthquake of 1994 and explore potential models for nationwide disaster reduction plans.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found a correlation between Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperatures and precipitation rates in the Great Plains. Warmer ocean temperatures lead to increased storm activity, resulting in wetter weather.
Researchers successfully controlled El Nino's behavior in a complex prediction model by altering values for deep ocean waves. This achievement may help improve El Nino event predictions, leading to measures that reduce global damage.
A National Science Foundation study reveals that emotions after disasters are more complex than portrayed in the news, with positive emotions often present. Survivors who receive early social support tend to cope better over time.
Most people are reluctant to purchase insurance against natural disasters due to perceived low risk and high cost, according to a 1978 NSF study. Property owners often forego buying insurance unless required by mortgage or in areas with regulatory restrictions on premiums.
The USGS, in partnership with state agencies, will continue to monitor the Red River's flow and water quality over the next four weeks. This effort aims to assess the impact of the unprecedented flood and gather data for flood forecasting, design, and environmental regulations.
Researchers suggest restoring natural wetlands in floodplains as a solution to address flooding problems. The strategy is based on lessons learned from the 1993 Upper Mississippi River floods and has cultural and economic implications for landowners and communities along the Illinois River.
The current floods in North Dakota have broken multiple records, including a 100-year-old record of 85,000 cubic feet per second. The Red River's predicted crest is expected to reach 54 feet, posing significant threats to emergency managers and evacuation orders.
The USGS report provides a detailed overview of the nation's wetland resources, including their types, distribution, and conservation efforts. The 103 million acres of remaining wetlands in the United States support critical habitat for waterfowl and reduce flood severity while improving water quality.
The USGS is reporting record-high floods in several states, including West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. The Little Kanawha River in West Virginia peaked at a historic 57,200 cfs, while the Ohio Brush Creek reached an 71-year high of 80,000 cfs.
Scientists warn that humanity's disregard for ecosystem services will have severe economic losses, estimated in trillions of dollars annually. The loss of nature's services can lead to floods, mudslides, and extinction of species, posing an existential threat to human survival.
The USGS network has been severely impacted by recent floods, with 146 streamflow measuring stations damaged or destroyed. This has hampered efforts to provide basic floodflow measurements, particularly in California where 79 gages were affected.
In 1996, 50% of streamgaging stations reported above-normal flows, while 29% reported below-normal flows. Record wet years on both coasts led to high loads of sediment, nutrients, and chemicals affecting water quality and living resources.
The Cheseapeake Bay experienced record flows in 1996, with rivers carrying a combined average of 87.5 billion gallons per day, affecting water quality and ecosystem health. Environmental effects could have been worse, but management actions and favorable timing reduced the impact.
The USGS has prioritized flood-level data to emergency-management teams, providing information on past floods, likelihood of recurrence, and flood effects. Field crews have repaired telemetry equipment, despite interrupted real-time transmission, and will study landslides to determine cause and effect.
Researchers are conducting studies on wind load, wind engineering meteorology, and wind flow around low-rise buildings. Computer programs have been developed to calculate direct/indirect costs of natural hazard disasters. The goal is to mitigate damage caused by hurricanes and other severe weather events.
Experts argue that global change research should focus on predicting rainfall patterns rather than temperature changes. Changes in rainfall can have significant effects on human activities and structures, such as road design and agriculture. By prioritizing rainfall prediction, researchers can help mitigate severe floods and droughts.
A high-tech radar system developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) successfully distinguished between heavy rain and hail in Colorado. The experimental dual-polarimetric radar proved its precision on July 12th, 1996, providing accurate measurements of raindrop size and shape that can help predict flash floods.
Researchers discovered a correlation between El Nino events and increased rainfall in central Israel over the past 20 years. The study used tree rings, satellite cloud images, and rainwater analysis to identify a link between El Niáo and Israeli rainfall.
The Yanomamo tribe, numbering around 25,000, is facing a major survival crisis due to the devastating floods in Venezuela's Amazon region. The flooding has imperiled clusters of Yanomamo living near the Orinoco River and destroyed their staple food crops, leading to increased sicknesses and potentially uncontrollable epidemics.