A new study identifies five recurring themes in European flood events: urbanization, climate-induced extremes, and inadequate governance. The research emphasizes the need for rethinking urban development in flood-prone areas and integrating flood-risk information into urban planning.
Climate change is increasing the frequency of both droughts and floods, with back-to-back extreme events stressing crops and reducing yield. The area affected by such events is also likely to increase, with low-income populations facing the steepest relative increases in exposure.
Researchers will develop AI-powered tools to examine cascading wildfire impacts, including flash floods, debris flows, and infrastructure disruptions. The project aims to bolster public safety and community resilience by combining AI, infrastructure modeling, and social science.
A new PNAS special feature examines how segregation shapes environmental risks and benefits in cities, including access to water, safety from floods, and exposure to extreme heat. The authors argue that understanding segregation as a social-ecological system can help break cycles and build more equitable cities.
Glacial lakes in the Alaknanda Basin are multiplying and expanding, posing a significant risk of devastating floods. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring and assessment to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the region.
A study analyzing 224 flood-related deaths in Germany and Belgium reveals that many occurred outside officially mapped flood hazard zones, with older people and those with mobility impairments disproportionately affected. The researchers call for improved risk management and hazard mapping to better protect vulnerable groups.
A study analyzing international reporting on natural disasters found that spectacular images, high death tolls, and personal ties drive cross-border coverage. Droughts and floods, key effects of climate change, are underreported due to low newsworthiness.
Historical data analyzed reveals the famous flood of 1342 was part of a 16-flood event series lasting almost two years. This study provides insights for modern flood protection strategies, highlighting the need to anticipate multiple major floods in quick succession.
A new study by UBC researchers found that watersheds with greater variation in elevation are less prone to flooding after tree harvesting, while flatter landscapes are more vulnerable. The study also highlights the role of fog in influencing flood behavior and suggests a targeted approach to forest management.
A study by Newcastle University found that local knowledge, improved evacuation preparedness, and resilient communication channels can reduce loss of life during glacial lake outburst floods. The research highlights the importance of strengthening existing early warning systems to better reflect community experiences.
Researchers found that the Agulhas Current supplies heat and moisture that strengthen weather systems, causing severe floods in the Western Cape. In contrast, the Benguela Upwelling System has a minor role in intensifying rainfall.
Researchers analyzed the 2025 Texas Hill Country floods, which killed at least 135 people, including 28 at Camp Mystic. Experimental models showed they could have predicted extreme flows with greater lead time.
A study by Penn State researchers found that severe flooding in rural Appalachia can lead to a significant increase in opioid overdose deaths, persisting up to 10 years after the event. The study suggests that decreased access to treatment services, increased trauma, and persistent stigma are key contributing factors.
A simple outdoor flood alarm is being developed by a UT Hydrology professor to detect life-threatening floods as water rises on individual properties. The low-tech alarm triggers a loud warning and light when water reaches a preset height, making it reliable during emergencies.
Researchers used experimental models to forecast 2025 Texas floods, which killed over 120 people. Models also project increased U.S. thunderstorm threat and severe weather season starts earlier in a warmer climate.
A new study reveals that tropical atmospheric phenomena act as 'gatekeepers' for cold surges, controlling their path and triggering devastating floods. The team found that pressure anomalies, sea surface temperature, and other factors modulate the surge's pathway, improving regional weather forecasting and early warning systems.
A study analyzing 60,000 records of flooding, waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, storms, and droughts in Brazil reveals regional impacts. The Northeast had the most affected cities, with landslides and droughts affecting this region the most.
A study by University of Essex and NOAA Fisheries reveals that young Californian Chinook salmon are struggling due to extreme weather and habitat destruction. The research found that juvenile salmon thrive in wet conditions but face high mortality rates during winter storms, leading to 'river ghosts' dying unseen
A new study reveals that climate models are less confident in predicting regional rainfall patterns due to uncertainties in large-scale wind patterns. This limits confidence in forecasts of floods and droughts, particularly in regions vulnerable to these events.
A new study warns that by 2085, 36% of animal habitats on land may experience multiple extreme events like heatwaves, fires, or floods. However, rapidly cutting emissions to net zero could limit the areas affected to just 9%.
Researchers found at least 94 elections and referendums across 52 countries were disrupted by natural hazards between 2006 and 2025. The report highlights the importance of election timing, coordination with meteorological agencies, and preparedness measures to safeguard democratic processes under increasing environmental pressure.
The book chronicles two centuries of weather stories and observations, including Britain's longest continuous daily weather records. It highlights the diversity of British weather, from scorching summers to devastating floods, and shares insights into climate change.
A study from the University of California, Davis, reveals that managed wetlands in Suisun Marsh produce 11-22 times more zooplankton than tidal habitats. Zooplankton are crucial for fish diets and increase in response to controlled floods.
A new AI model has been developed to predict floods with greater accuracy than traditional methods. The knowledge-guided approach combines elements of physics-based models with machine-learning techniques to automatically learn the state of a river's watershed, eliminating the need for manual recalibration.
Research shows glacial lakes in Alaska expanding 50% faster than previously recorded, posing significant hazards and altering ecosystems. The study identifies areas where lakes may form and grow, helping with infrastructure planning and predicting changes to ecosystems, hazards, and recreation.
Researchers found that increasing weather forecasting model resolution to the kilometre scale can improve predictions of flash floods and landslides. Higher-resolution simulations accurately captured storm intensity, timing, and location, while lower-resolution models smoothed out critical wind pattern details.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia argue that forests can alter the frequency and probability of floods, including major events. They call for a shift in how flood impacts are evaluated, moving away from single event comparisons and toward assessing how forests affect flood risk over time.
A new study by Tokyo University of Science found that floods are the biggest drivers of plastic pollution in rivers, increasing microplastic and mesoplastic concentrations by orders of magnitude. The research highlights the need to include high-flow events when assessing plastic emissions.
Researchers at Newcastle University and the UK Met Office identified a three-layered atmospheric structure associated with heavy rainfall developing within minutes. The findings help explain record-breaking rainfall and flash floods in the UAE and Oman in April 2024, and may aid future improvements in identifying risk.
A study found that hydroclimatic extremes and changes in agriculture led to the collapse of the Tang dynasty in 907 CE. The research analyzed tree ring data and concluded that increased droughts and floods took a toll on the empire's outer borders and agricultural systems.
A new study at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities investigates how floodwaters transport and bury animal bones to understand fossil formation. The research provides clues for understanding animal extinction and environmental changes.
Simulations predict a 22-26% and 37-43% increase in extreme floods on the Karnali River between 2020 and 2099, with high emissions expected to see a 73-84% increase. The study highlights the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate flood hazards.
Research shows that flooding in delta cities like Shanghai can expand by up to 80% and be much deeper by 2100 due to extreme climate events, sea-level rise and land subsidence. A major adaptation effort is required to raise defences and construct mobile flood barriers.
Global rice yields have suffered significantly due to severe flooding, with losses of approximately 4.3% per year between 1980 and 2015. The study highlights the need for adoption of flood-resistant rice varieties in vulnerable regions to avert future losses.
A new AI-powered model forecasts flooding impacts and manages water resources globally, revealing shifts in the balance of water between rivers, groundwater, and landscapes. The model provides reliable data for local-scale water management, flood forecasting, and ecosystem protection.
New research reveals that prolonged accumulation of rain over several days, fueled by mountains blocking moisture from the Adriatic Sea, causes extremely rare floods. The study identifies a 'cul-de-sac' effect, where stationary cyclones channel humid air toward vulnerable regions, increasing flood risk.
A new review highlights how exogenous phytohormones can strengthen sugarcane's ability to cope with both drought and waterlogging. Emerging technologies like robotic systems and nanotechnology are being developed to deliver hormones precisely when and where they are needed.
A new study found that people who have experienced extreme weather events are more likely to view climate change as a serious threat. The study analyzed data from over 128,000 people across 142 countries and found that heatwaves had the strongest effect on risk perception, increasing it by about the same extent as having a university e...
A UBC study reveals that even modest increases in river flows can dramatically raise flood frequency, with major implications for infrastructure and community safety. The researchers call for a shift in flood management, focusing on tracking how often floods occur, rather than just their size.
Human activities such as agricultural expansion and soil dumping are narrowing Oman's wadis, altering soil chemistry and sediment distribution. This process accelerates erosion during flash floods, creating a "bottleneck effect" that increases floodwater velocity and spreads contaminants downstream.
A new study developed a flood-forecasting AI that can be tuned for any country, reducing errors in national flood prediction programming. The hybrid model combining the AI with the National Water Model was four to six times more accurate, improving forecast accuracy and potential economic impacts of floods.
Two studies reveal that natural processes can bring organic-rich materials to the Mars rover, increasing its diversity of samples. Rockfalls in Oxia Planum may have originated from elsewhere on Mars and were deposited through a series of floods over 3.5 billion years ago.
A new study led by Professor Jonghun Kam predicts that Pakistan will experience major floods and severe droughts on a periodic basis, exacerbated by accelerating global warming. The AI model forecasts these extreme weather events every 15 years for the upper Indus River, and roughly every 11 years for surrounding rivers.
New research from Purdue University reveals how moisture influences atmospheric blocking, a phenomenon that often drives heat waves, droughts, cold outbreaks and floods. The study introduces a new mechanism showing that moisture-induced diabatic heating strengthens ridge blocks but weakens dipole blocks.
Higher-income households in US counties hit by floods and hurricanes are more likely to flee, taking their resources with them. This trend has significant economic impacts on at-risk communities, including reduced ability to recover from disasters and prepare for future catastrophes.
A new attribution study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research shows that adaptation measures have reduced economic losses from flooding by 63 percent and fatalities by 52 percent in Europe since 1950. Despite climate change, vulnerability has declined across the continent, with some regional differences.
Glacier-caused flooding is an annual threat in Juneau, with record-breaking floods over the past two years impacting hundreds of homes. The USGS provides real-time monitoring data to help emergency managers make informed decisions about evacuations and road closures.
A new study attributes the extreme nature of the floods to climate change, linking it to intensified rainfall and warning that storms will become even more intense as the planet warms. The research calls for building resilience in a warming world through advanced early warning systems and community-based flood warnings.
A novel AI-powered flood damage assessment using satellite imagery has been developed, achieving 74% of fully supervised performance with just 10% labeled data. The Simple Prior Attention Disaster Assessment Net (SPADANet) model improves recall by over 9% compared to existing models.
The elimination of federal and state tools to monitor and forecast climate disasters imperils public health efforts. Climate data is crucial for preparing and responding to heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
A new UBC study found that clear-cutting can lead to an 18-fold rise in extreme floods, with effects lasting over 40 years. The study also reveals that landscape factors, such as slope direction, play a crucial role in shaping a watershed's response to treatment.
New research suggests that the devastating 2021 floods in Germany could have been even more damaging with small shifts in atmospheric conditions. The study found that rainfall characteristics could have lasted longer and spread across larger areas, causing worse flooding downstream.
A new study introduces the SESBI index to measure stream health based on ecosystem services provided to humans. The tool evaluates six indicators directly tied to stream benefits, enabling decision-makers to quickly understand a stream's condition and prioritize investments.
A new framework developed by researchers aims to better predict and understand cascading land surface hazards, which can increase the risk of subsequent events. The study's findings could help improve disaster response and build societal resilience after natural hazards.
Record-breaking flooding in Central Asia was attributed to heavy snowmelt, extreme rainfall, and record-high soil moisture. Climate change amplifies compound disasters, posing significant challenges for predictions and projections of spring flooding risks.
A new study uses satellite imagery to identify where winter floods occur in California's Central Valley, revealing areas of high flood risk and potential for groundwater recharge. The research aims to improve flood risk awareness and inform strategies for redirecting floodwaters to replenish depleted aquifers.
Researchers at Uppsala University predict that concurrent extreme events will become more frequent due to climate change, posing new challenges for preparedness. The study examines six types of events and finds a sharp increase in combinations of heatwaves and forest fires, as well as heatwaves and droughts, in various regions worldwide.
A new study presents an integrated model that evaluates flood risks to people's life and property in the lower Yellow River under various floodplain management modes. The model accurately simulates highly sediment-laden floods and assesses vulnerability to extreme flooding.
A study explores the growing challenges of urban flash floods and waterlogging in coastal cities, highlighting governance failures, inadequate waste management, and climate-induced pressures. Practical solutions proposed include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, green infrastructure, and inclusive urban governance.
Research reveals that desert reservoirs like Elephant Butte can sequester organic carbon beneath layers of sediment during periods of drought and flash floods. This process amplifies the carbon burial rate due to the smaller footprint of the reservoir, allowing for more efficient storage of greenhouse gases.