A team led by CSU engineers aims to provide a low-cost, high-fidelity communications system for miners that eliminates the need for expensive equipment. The system will use standard smartphones and low-cost wireless sensing to improve miner safety in underground environments.
A new Kyoto University DNA test can identify disaster victims and confirm relatedness between distant relatives like second cousins with nearly 100% accuracy using a simple swab sample.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research's WRF-Hydro model provides continuous predictions of water levels and potential flooding in rivers and streams across the contiguous United States. This enables better management of reservoirs, navigation along major rivers, and planning for droughts.
A severe low-pressure system brought intense tropical moisture to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in record-breaking rainfall totals over southern Louisiana. At least 4 people have died in the floods, which also affected southeastern Mississippi and western Louisiana.
A new study reveals that Democratic voters are more likely to perceive a higher probability of flood damage, expect climate change to increase the risk, and invest in individual protection measures. Republicans, on the other hand, are less likely to trust government to address flood risks and receive federal disaster relief.
Researchers tracked 22 striped bass in response to severe storms in the Hudson River Estuary and New York Harbor. The study found that fish rapidly left the area, moving south along the coast, and some adopted new migration behaviors. This change may impact fish populations and breeding habits.
NASA's IMERG data revealed strong bands of heavy rain extending east-west over north-central Maryland, with localized areas experiencing higher rates. The area affected suffered devastating flooding, including the historic town of Ellicott City, where two people drowned and numerous cars were damaged.
Researchers developed an affordable open-source data logger to collect high-frequency stream data, capturing trends in water volume and behavior. The logger enables communities to build resilience to water resource stress, a crucial step in addressing the impact of global climate change.
The study reveals significant productivity losses due to heat stress, with potential GDP losses of up to $2 trillion by 2030. Climate change exacerbates health risks from disasters like floods, cyclones, and landslides, affecting millions in the Asia Pacific region.
Germany can expect increased flood losses due to climate change, with potential damages reaching up to 500 million euros per year, according to a recent study. The research suggests that without adaptation, flood-related damage could multiply in the future.
Agroforestry allows farmers to balance biomass trees with crops, capturing more carbon, filtering nutrients, and stabilizing soil. The practice offers greater economic security and long-term benefits for farmers.
A new study reveals that changes in wind patterns are the main driver of California droughts, rather than moisture levels. Researchers analyzed 30-year data sets to find that atmospheric circulation disturbances have a significant impact on drought frequency and severity.
A new, rare blind planthopper species has been discovered exclusively in a Brazilian cave. The species, Iuiuia caeca, is a small, yellowish insect that measures only 3mm, and its unique characteristics make it essential for understanding subterranean biodiversity.
A controlled pulse of water to the Colorado River Delta released stored greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. This study highlights the need for a long-term approach to manage riverbed carbon storage in response to changing climate conditions.
Researchers have discovered that arsenic accumulates in the nuclei of plants' cells at low concentrations, impairing photosynthesis. The toxic metalloid can cause genetic damage by replacing phosphorus in genes.
Researchers require improved techniques to grasp climate change causes and its impact on communities, according to Professor Peter Stott. Better information will help policymakers safeguard people from extreme weather events.
Children are disproportionately affected by disease from air pollution and climate change due to their biological vulnerability. Reducing fossil fuel dependence can alleviate these issues, resulting in fewer low birth weight babies, asthma cases, and neurodevelopmental problems.
The Bavarian Alps have seen a 14% decline in topsoil organic matter over the past three decades, primarily caused by climate warming. Implementing humus-promoting forest management can help mitigate floods and preserve soil fertility, water balance, and nutrient supply.
Red-eyed treefrog embryos, thought to be helpless, are found to have evolved a quick-release mechanism to escape the egg prematurely. The study reveals that tadpoles can hatch up to two days ahead of schedule and use enzymes to create a hole in the egg membrane before escaping.
The first wave of low-cost weather stations have been installed in Zambia, providing critically needed information for farmers and residents. The stations, built with 3D-printed parts, transmit temperature, rainfall, wind, and other weather parameters.
The University of Texas at Arlington associate professor has launched a new Android cell phone app called iSeeFlood to encourage public reports of flash flooding. The app integrates data from wireless sensors and radar systems to improve flash flood forecasting and warning systems, ultimately saving lives and property.
Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center use computer models to study tropical storms and hurricanes. Improved models can lead to better predictions and warnings for natural disasters like flooding and property loss.
Researchers found that ecosystems with many similar species can handle tougher environmental disturbances due to the exchangeability of plant traits. This method helps conservationists predict how ecosystems will react to environmental changes and identify areas for restoration or preservation.
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a method to predict avulsions in river deltas, which can cause flooding and destruction. The team used experimental flooding conditions to confirm the key factors contributing to avulsion locations.
The Wilderness Medical Society has released comprehensive guidelines for preventing and treating drowning, with a focus on rescue, resuscitation, and clinical management. The new recommendations aim to reduce the 10 daily US fatalities and 3,800 annual drownings, emphasizing importance of water safety measures.
Scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found a clear link between higher sea surface salinity levels and increased rainfall on land in the African Sahel. By analyzing global salinity and rainfall data, they discovered that high springtime salinity levels correlate significantly with increased monsoon-season rainfall in the ...
A new study from Queen Mary University of London found that historic UK landfills in England and Wales contain high levels of contaminants that could harm marine life if eroded or flooded. The analysis of two landfill sites in Essex revealed pollutants at concentrations exceeding marine sediment quality guidelines, posing a significant...
Researchers found that moderate floods have a significant impact on river shaping, increasing erosion rates. However, extreme floods have limited additional effect on channel geometry, suggesting that landscapes can stabilize over long-term climate shifts.
Researchers found that large storms move about 50% more sediment than typical rainfall, but the overall contribution to erosion is smaller. River channels adjust their size to accommodate flow, setting a speed limit on erosion.
A recent study found that hydropeaking, or the daily raising and lowering of river flows, has a devastating impact on aquatic insect abundance. The researchers discovered a clear correlation between hydropeaking and the number of insect species present, with certain insects being nearly absent in areas where they should have been present.
A new method combines structured expert judgment and probabilistic inversion to provide a single, consistent set of probabilities for future sea-level rise. This approach aims to address the lack of formality in evaluating climate model uncertainty, which can impact policy and preparedness.
Scientists predict Indian monsoon's onset two weeks earlier and its withdrawal six weeks earlier than before. The new method uses network analysis of regional weather data to improve prediction accuracy, particularly for years affected by El Nino-Southern Oscillation.
A seismic network in Nevada is being used to monitor wildfires and provide early intelligence on more than 25 fires during the last fire season. The technology has the potential to remake firefighting by allowing for tactical suppression and scaling resources appropriately, saving time and money.
A new study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene documents the public health impacts after devastating flooding on a South Pacific island. Researchers found that 31 people died, mostly children under 14, and many more were injured or affected by infectious diseases.
Researchers found that ants form rafts with different members occupying specific positions based on experience, demonstrating collective memory and cooperation. This phenomenon has implications for our understanding of social insects and potential applications in robotics and medicine.
Record Balkan floods of 2014 were likely caused by the temporary slowdown of giant airstreams and planetary wave resonance. The study found that extreme rainfall events are strongly increasing in the region, even more than globally observed.
Rising river waters deliver a feast of carbon to hungry microbes, triggering increased activity that could naturally boost emissions. The study suggests a link between the mixing of surface water and groundwater, leading to a decline in dissolved organic carbon and an increase in inorganic carbon.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed a new system to predict floods in real-time using advanced computing resources. With the National Flood Interoperability Experiment (NFIE), they can forecast floods continually, improving the accuracy and speed of flood warnings for communities nationwide.
A CU Denver study reveals that many communities fail to incorporate historic preservation into their disaster management plans, putting cultural resources at risk. The study identified numerous historic sites in hazardous areas, including those in Florida's National Register of Historic Places in a 100-year floodplain.
Researchers found that atmospheric circulation patterns, including the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge, are more frequent in recent decades, increasing the risk of drought. The study also showed that temperature plays a significant role in drought development.
Experts warn that poorly designed insurance instruments could fail to reach poor communities, highlighting the need for tailored approaches and coupled with adaptation efforts. Policymakers must consider climate insurance as part of a wider strategy rather than in isolation.
A new study shows that storing extra surface water in underground aquifers can increase groundwater supply during droughts. Regions that actively store surface water have seen increased groundwater levels, even as surrounding areas depleted theirs.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a faster and more accurate flood risk assessment method that relies on an algorithm to extract key causative events driving major floods. This new approach reduces the time taken for modeling while maintaining high accuracy, potentially saving properties and lives.
China's sweeping program to restore forests has seen significant gains in tree cover, with nearly 61,000 square miles of land recovering, while 14,400 square miles experienced loss. The recovery is encouraging, but researchers emphasize the need for further research on the broader impacts of forest degradation and recovery worldwide.
A JRC-led research highlights four adaptation measures to reduce flood risk in Europe, prioritizing vulnerability reduction and relocation over traditional protection methods. The study suggests a combination of measures is more effective than individual actions, and recommends optimizing these strategies at the river basin level.
A recent study published in Ecological Engineering suggests that restoring wetlands in the Midwest can reduce peak river flows during floods by up to 17.5 percent. This approach could provide a natural and ecological option for flood management, serving as an additional tool for mitigating the impact of climate change.
A new study estimates that 1.9 billion people, or 28% of the world's total population, live closer than 100 km from the coast in areas less than 100 meters above the present sea level. By 2050, this number is predicted to increase to 2.4 billion, with 500 million people living lower than 5 meters above current sea level.
A recent study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers suggests that the destruction of oyster reefs in New York Harbor led to a significant increase in storm-induced overwash deposition. The authors found that before European settlement, oyster beds absorbed wave energy, providing coastal protection.
A new method quantifies monetary losses from coastal floods under sea-level rise, showing that damage costs consistently increase at a higher rate. The study provides estimates of average annual costs of sea-level rise over longer time periods, helping policymakers assess adaptation measures.
NASA has visualized rainfall data to show the changes in US precipitation during El Niño, with areas like California and East Coast experiencing wet conditions. However, other parts of the country faced droughts and floods due to shifts in precipitation patterns.
Heavy rainfall causes gullies to expand rapidly, with predicted climate change increasing rates up to three times faster. Researchers have developed a model to predict gully expansion and warn of devastating consequences for agriculture, water quality, and infrastructure.
The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) has been updated by NASA, enabling more detailed studies of global changes in Earth's ocean, ice sheets, land, and atmosphere. Four measurement techniques, including Satellite Laser Ranging and GNSS, contribute to the reference frame.
Journalists Terri Cook and Phil McKenna have been awarded the EGU Science Journalism Fellowship to investigate sustainable water development and seismic wave mitigation. They will explore how artificial floods support water development and whether trees can weaken seismic vibrations.
A study found that public administrations in Germany rely on their own experiences in shaping participatory processes, rather than adopting best practices from other states. They also draw on experience from adjacent policy areas to optimize their processes.
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events will negatively impact global crop production, leading to higher food prices and scarcity. Global markets with the ability to deliver food where it's needed most can help counterbalance these effects. Trade agreements can significantly moderate the worst effects on food security.
University of Exeter researchers present world-leading studies on climate tipping points and glacial lake outburst floods, shedding light on early warning signals and their implications for global action. The research aims to provide insights into the social and policy implications of these critical thresholds.
Scientists found that recent developments near the Meramec River, including a levee and landfill, significantly magnified flood levels. The study showed that floods are becoming more chaotic, unpredictable, and severe due to human activities such as development in floodways and floodplains.
A study by Oxford University scientists found that human-induced climate change increased the risk of severe storms in the south of England, leading to devastating flooding. The analysis attributed the increase in extreme rainfall to thermodynamic changes in the atmosphere and westerly air flow.
Native forests reduce flood frequency and severity, while coral reefs provide a 97% cost-effective defense from storm surges. The cost of adaptation could reach $100 billion per year, but intact ecosystems offer the best defense against climate change.
Researchers used social media data from Twitter and Flickr to identify hotspots in need of aid during the 2013 Colorado floods. The team's innovative approach combined remote sensing imagery with machine-learning algorithms to quickly analyze images and pinpoint areas affected by flooding.