Researchers found evidence of massive icebergs drifting from Northeast Canada to southern Florida using high-resolution seafloor mapping and radiocarbon dating. The discovery provides insight into the interactions between icebergs/glaciers and climate, shedding light on how past changes in freshwater forcing influenced shifts in climate.
A KIT research team developed a new statistical method to improve global forecasts, enabling more accurate seasonal meteorological forecasts on the regional level. This can help mitigate local consequences of climate change, such as droughts and floods, by providing early warning of wet or dry periods.
A new study shows Puerto Rico's capacity to produce record-breaking floods and landslides, highlighting the need for adaptation in planning tools. The island's limited water storage capacity is exacerbated by sediment infilling reservoirs, leading to water scarcity.
A recent study by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University researchers found that floods in most UK areas no longer follow historical patterns due to climate change and human intervention. This challenges traditional flood frequency analysis methods, which may lead to underestimation of flood peaks and catastrophic consequences.
Researchers studied sediment scour and bedrock erosion in waterfall plunge pools, finding mass balance controls on these processes. Climate change was also explored during the end-Permian extinction, with a focus on the impact of chemical weathering and land surface temperature.
A new study examines the antecedents of disaster preparedness in firms, finding that organizational experience with disaster is a powerful motivator, but also notes the importance of external learning and collaboration. Effective disaster preparation requires working with others to learn from best practices.
Deep pools below waterfalls are refuges for fish and aquatic animals during summer months when river temperatures become lethal. Waterfall jets can liquefy sediment, triggering debris flows that damage property and threaten lives. Researchers provided a new framework to predict plunge pool fill and evacuation patterns.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change warns that flash flood risk may triple across the Third Pole due to global warming. The study found that one in six glacial lakes pose a high to very high risk to downstream communities, with potential transboundary natural disasters expected to increase.
A study by researchers in Berlin and Milan found that floods can increase bacteria concentrations in groundwater due to reduced purification capacity of bank filtration. The research highlights the importance of considering seasonal dynamics and sediment properties in risk assessment practices.
The study reveals that glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalayan region and Tibetan plateau could triple in the coming decades, posing a significant threat to communities and infrastructure. The risk of transboundary disasters will also increase, with new hotspots emerging in regions like the Western Himalaya and Pamir.
In 2020, China experienced a warm and wet climate, with floods and droughts being the most prevalent types of disasters. The mean air temperature was 0.7°C above normal, and annual rainfall was 10.3% above average.
New research using Synthetic Aperture Radar data from Sentinel-1 satellites shows improved ability to detect, monitor, prepare for and withstand natural disasters like bushfires and floods. SAR data provides valuable insights for hazard mitigation and complementing existing Earth observation programs.
The Himalayan region is prone to devastating glacial lake outburst floods due to rising temperatures and extreme precipitation. A network of satellite-based monitoring stations could provide in situ and real-time data on GLOF risk, helping to mitigate future events.
Hokkaido University researchers have developed a model that explains the causes of past glacial river floods in northern Greenland and predicts future flooding risks. The study reveals that torrential rainfall was the primary driver of the 2016 flood, while warm temperatures were responsible for the 2015 event.
Climate change will drive droughts, heat waves, floods, and low river flows in the Colorado River basin. The study found an average temperature rise of 5.5 degrees Celsius and a significant increase in concurrent extreme hydroclimate events.
A research team from the University of Tokyo analyzed global flood risk modeling uncertainties, finding large uncertainties mainly associated with runoff data. The study identifies key areas for improvement in hydrological modeling to enhance future predictions of flood risk.
The INRS project aims to improve access to safe drinking water for rural communities along the Ikopa River in Madagascar. The study will assess the risks of well water contamination and propose solutions to address frequent floods that contaminate underground and surface drinking water sources.
A new study finds that global warming significantly increases the risk of population displacement due to river floods, even when accounting for population growth. The research projects a 110% increase in globally averaged displacement risk by 2100 if climate change is aligned with the Paris Agreement, highlighting the need for rapid ac...
New research highlights how extreme rainfall associated with climate change harms babies' development, leading to smaller birth-weight and premature birth. The study found that even non-extreme intense rainfall resulted in lower birth-weight, with children from disadvantaged households facing the most severe effects.
A recent study found that dams can decrease the number of people globally exposed to historical once-in-100-year floods by approximately 15% downstream of dams. Integrating dam landscapes into existing flood modeling frameworks is crucial for realistic assessments of population exposure to present and future floods.
A regional study from Dartmouth College found increases in extreme streamflow events across the US and Canada, including more frequent floods and droughts. The research analyzed records dating back to 1910 and identified significant changes in precipitation levels on river systems.
An international research team proposes a 'glocal' approach to better predict and prevent flooding disasters by combining global forecasting with local observations. The proposed system, GHS-F, aims to provide highly detailed and consistent rain-flood information, which could help avoid some flooding damage.
Declining biodiversity is putting nature's contributions to people at risk, impacting crop yields and soil productivity. The degradation of environmental conditions also increases exposure to floods and storms, affecting human well-being and prosperity.
Researchers from Cornell University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory discovered evidence of massive floods in Gale Crater, suggesting conditions for microbial life. The flooding, likely caused by a meteoritic impact, deposited unique geological structures indicating flowing water and wind on Mars.
A team led by Eric Gaidos discovered the mechanism behind glacial lake floods, which are some of the largest on Earth. The researchers found that hydraulic connections between glaciers and lakes can lead to sudden and unpredictable floods.
Researchers studied a 2014 GLOF event in Ladakh, India, to understand the cause of rapid lake level rise. They found that increased glacial melting caused thawing ice cores to drain through subsurface tunnels without spilling over.
Researchers have discovered that rivers will jump course more often on deltas than in the past, with avulsions occurring up to 20 times farther upstream. The combination of sea level rise, increased floods, and finer sediment size enables these destructive events to occur ever farther inland.
A new study suggests that real-time seismic monitoring could detect glacial lake outburst floods five hours before they reach downstream communities. Researchers reconstructed the 1994 Punakha flood using seismic data, showing promise for a seismology-based early warning system.
A new federal rule leaves millions of miles of unconnected US streams and acres of wetlands unprotected, potentially undermining decades of taxpayer investment in improving water quality. The move risks higher floods, loss of biodiversity, and threats to drinking water and recreational fishing.
Rising sea levels may cause more frequent and devastating river avulsions, altering the course of rivers to the sea. This shift in river dynamics could lead to costly infrastructure failures and increased flood risks for coastal communities.
Tropical Storm Gonzalo is expected to produce heavy rainfall, leading to life-threatening flash floods in Barbados and the Windward Islands. NASA's Aqua satellite gathered water vapor data on July 24, showing coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
A new study analyzing five hundred years of floods in Europe reveals that the continent is experiencing one of its most flood-rich periods in recent history. The research found that the last three decades have been among the most significant regarding frequency and magnitude of floods, with a shift towards more frequent summer floods.
A major international research project shows that flooding characteristics in recent decades are unlike those of previous centuries. Historical data analysis identified nine flood-rich periods and associated regions, with a shift in the timing and relationship between floods and air temperatures.
Researchers used 2018 Japan floods to calibrate a machine learning model to predict Typhoon Hagibis' flooding impact. The model accurately identified inundated areas, verifying AI's potential for learning from past disasters.
Historic floods have shown salt marshes' ability to confine breach depth, reducing flood damage by lowering inundation depths. This natural defense can greatly enhance coastal safety, even in areas where preserving or developing marshes is not possible.
Researchers found that beaver-induced floods create a network of interconnected habitats in southern Finland, increasing environmental heterogeneity. The study suggests beavers can help restore wetland ecosystems and conserve biodiversity.
Researchers found that free flowing mud under Martian conditions behaves differently from on Earth due to rapid freezing and icy crust formation. The experimental mud flows formed similar shapes to 'pahoehoe' lava, explaining the formation of lava-like flow morphologies on Mars.
By 2050, the US is expected to face more frequent heat waves, droughts, and floods, posing greater risks to human health and ecosystems. Researchers used high-resolution climate models to calculate population exposure to extreme climate events, finding that over 47 million people are already exposed annually.
A team of scientists proposes that catastrophic outburst floods carved Greenland's megacanyon network, influenced by large meltwater-filled lakes. The study suggests that these floods could have impacted ocean circulation and caused abrupt climate changes with regional significance.
Researchers propose that catastrophic outburst floods, triggered by warm periods, carved Greenland's megacanyon over time. The floods are believed to have occurred hundreds of times, carving the Grand Canyon and influencing ocean circulation and present-day ice-sheet stability.
Poor Amazonians struggle to catch enough fish during massive seasonal floods, leading to widespread malnutrition and lifelong health consequences. Researchers found that families often go without food for days or eat smaller portions.
Research finds that climate change increases the risk of undernutrition and diarrheal diseases among young children in flood-prone areas of India. Interventions focused on households with pregnant women and infants can help mitigate these risks by improving access to healthcare, safe drinking water, and sanitation facilities.
A new Johns Hopkins University study finds that for every percentage point increase in roads and impervious surfaces, annual floods increase by 3.3% on average. The research team used a large dataset of streamgages and impervious surface data to isolate the effect of urbanization on flooding.
Severe flooding in the Midwest delayed crop growth by around two weeks and reduced maximum seasonal photosynthesis by 15 percent. This led to a 100 million metric ton reduction in net carbon uptake from June to July 2019.
The UK Water Resources Portal brings together up-to-date data on river flows, rainfall, soil moisture and groundwater levels, providing insights into floods and droughts. The portal also offers historical records for comparison with previous significant events.
Researchers at Rice University found that Buffalo Bayou's natural form is better at absorbing floodwater and preventing it from spilling over into heavily populated areas. The study shows that urban development in the Brays watershed increased the 100-year flood plain, making it more prone to flooding.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a comprehensive statistical framework to predict the evolution of floods in extreme situations like hurricanes. The algorithm considers underground drainage channels to provide an accurate representation of how floods propagate, enabling timelier emergency response.
The study found that massive flood events in the eastern North Pacific Ocean, known as the Missoula Floods, may have contributed to abrupt climate changes in the Northern Hemisphere. The researchers reconstructed sea surface temperature and salinity patterns using fossil plankton data from marine sediment cores.
Dr. Catherine Nakalembe from NASA Harvest is helping countries in Eastern Africa build systems to monitor crops using free satellite data, enabling life-saving decisions on food security. Combining satellite and ground data with weather forecasts allows for early warnings of crop failure due to drought, floods, disease, or pests.
Climate change could lead to a 30-70% increase in landslide activity in the border region of China and Nepal, causing flash floods and downstream disasters. The study used satellite estimates and modeled precipitation data to project future landslide trends.
A recent study found that Wikipedia's coverage of natural disasters is biased towards wealthy countries, particularly the USA and Canada. The study analyzed 458 flood events and found a greater tendency to cover these events in middle- and high-income countries.
Research in mice shows that the glymphatic system floods the brain during a stroke, triggering severe swelling and cell death. This discovery could lead to new treatment strategies focused on restoring blood flow and inhibiting the spread of depolarization.
New Stanford research finds that winter floods driven by rainfall can be 2.5 times larger than those driven by snowmelt. As global warming increases precipitation falling as rain, flood sizes increase exponentially, posing a significant threat to infrastructure in Western US.
Researchers estimate that glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF) could reach peak discharges of up to 15,600 cubic meters per second, posing a major threat to rivers and communities in the region. The study highlights the importance of monitoring lake levels and historic outbursts in determining GLOF hazard.
Yu Zhang is studying how to assess costly economic and ecological impacts of natural disasters on industries and waterways around the Neches River basin in southeast Texas. He's investigating whether wetlands can filter out pollutants that enter Texas waterways following extended flooding.
Scientists explore how fire ants build rafts to respond to changes in their environment during floods. The ants' ability to sense and adjust to fluid forces enables the formation of durable and safer rafts.
A NASA study found that near-real-time satellite data can save an average of nine minutes per emergency response, potentially saving millions of dollars in disaster scenarios. The research used the 2011 Southeast Asian floods as a case study and developed a model to deploy in future disasters.
A new study finds that conservatives who report personal harm from extreme weather events, such as wildfires or floods, are more likely to support climate change mitigation policies. The study surveyed over 1,600 residents in communities affected by extreme weather events and found a significant link between reported harm and support f...
Researchers will conduct baseline studies on stream morphology and aquatic habitats before bridge construction and develop predictive models for Texas Department of Transportation. They aim to determine the downstream ecological impacts of bridge construction on freshwater mussels and assess floodwater's force on typical bridges.
Experts from the University of Surrey have found that nature-based solutions (NBS) can effectively combat climate-related natural disasters. NBS were used to combat floods and heatwaves, with hybrid solutions being the most frequently used method in Europe.