Articles tagged with Floods
A study by University of Arizona researchers found that Black and Hispanic people are more likely to live in areas at high risk of flooding. The study suggests that certain reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program could disproportionately negatively impact these groups.
A study by Indiana University researchers finds that 31 million people living on river deltas worldwide are at high risk of experiencing flooding and other climate-related impacts. River deltas contain 4.5% of the global population, but only 0.5% of the earth's land surface.
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.
Native broadleaf trees planted in upland areas can absorb rainwater more efficiently, reducing peak river flow and flood risk. This nature-based solution is an effective and natural flood management tool that can be maximized with careful placement.
Slow-moving post-tropical storm Beta continues to drop large amounts of rainfall in Texas as it moves into the Lower Mississippi Valley. The NASA satellite rainfall product estimated Beta's rainfall rates, with flash flood watches currently in effect across southeast Texas and southern Louisiana.
Tropical Storm Beta is expected to stall inland over Texas today, bringing heavy rains and flash flooding. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed the storm using infrared data, revealing coldest cloud top temperatures as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
NASA used satellites to estimate Hurricane Sally's rainfall and create a flood warning map. The storm generated high rainfall rates near its core, resulting in widespread flooding along the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Heavy rainmakers were detected north of the eye, with cloud top temperatures reaching -80 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 study provides a global analysis of storm surge footprints, showing they are more dependent on storm track direction than intensity. This information can improve coastal risk analysis, emergency plans, and adaptation measures, highlighting the importance of inter-state and international collaboration for disaster preparedness.
Researchers developed a non-toxic nanofluid using commercially available sodium, achieving 80% oil recovery in lab tests. The nanofluid works through multiple mechanisms, including generating heat and reducing viscosity, making it a game-changing technology for oil recovery.
A study reveals that ancient Peruvian farmers used floodwater from El Niño events for agriculture, benefiting from flushed-out salts and flexible irrigation systems. This ancient farming practice allowed for runoff harvesting and river water distribution, suggesting potential agricultural advantages during El Niño events.
Researchers assessed flood vulnerability in Tucson's low-income neighborhoods and found that comprehensive green infrastructure increases multimodal access in moderate flooding conditions. They prioritized upstream mitigation, roadside basins, and other design elements to maximize accessibility.
Researchers have discovered a way to make staple foods resistant to flooding triggered by climate change. By manipulating enzymes that control plant responses to low oxygen levels, scientists hope to create flood-tolerant crops that can help mitigate the devastating impact of extreme weather events on food production.
Tropical Depression Laura is generating heavy rain and triggering watches across the eastern U.S., with a risk of tornadoes in parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and southern Kentucky. The depression is moving east-northeast at 20 mph, expected to continue along the Ohio Valley through tonight.
A new study by researchers from the University of Göttingen and IPB University reveals that land use change leads to more frequent and severe flooding in Indonesia. The expansion of monocultures such as oil palm and rubber plantations causes soil degradation, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased water runoff.
Texas A&M researchers have created a contagious model to accurately forecast flood water spread and recession process on urban road networks. The findings provide valuable insights into the universality of network spread processes across various systems, which can help better manage cities.
Researchers found an increased threat to populated areas from rising water tables and the possibility of flooding in unexpected inland areas. The study indicates that rising sea levels could push freshwater closer to the surface, putting infrastructure at coastal seaports and national airports at risk.
A new study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology found that land surface conditions can affect mesoscale convective systems, allowing for more accurate forecasts and up to six hours' warning. This will inform alert systems for communities across Africa, enabling them to better prepare for severe flooding.
Researchers found that instilling trust among stakeholders and understanding the science behind flooding were crucial for a successful collaborative decision-making process. This approach led to the implementation of a sustainable flood mitigation strategy that balanced individual needs with environmental protection.
A new study reveals that census areas with more white, affluent homeowners file higher flood insurance claims than lower-income minority residents. The researchers found that social demographic variables, including politics and property values, improve predictions of flood insurance claims.
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.
Researchers develop a new class of materials that can seamlessly transfer a compound's bright fluorescence to a solid state, overcoming a long-standing barrier. The breakthrough has potential applications in solar energy harvesting, bioimaging, and lasers.
Researchers find that San Francisco Bay Area coastal flooding causes region-wide commute disruptions, particularly in areas with sparse road networks. Climate change exacerbates the issue, and measuring road network density is crucial for understanding community resilience to flood-related delays.
A recent satellite survey tracked California's entire coast for over a decade, revealing local hotspots of subsidence in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Cruz. The study found that these areas will face increased flooding risk as sea levels rise, with rates of subsidence reaching up to 8.7 mm/year.
A new study suggests that coastal flooding events could impact up to 287 million people and assets worth US $14.2 trillion globally by 2100. The areas predicted to be most affected are north-west Europe, south-east and east Asia, and northern Australia.
A new study predicts a 50% rise in coastal flooding globally over the next 80 years due to climate change. This would expose an additional 77 million people to flooding risks, with up to $US14.2 trillion in infrastructure exposed.
Tropical Storm Isaias developed into a tropical storm on July 29 with a well-defined center, according to NASA-NOAA satellites. The storm is expected to produce heavy rain and life-threatening flash flooding in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.
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 from the University of Oregon have identified chemical changes caused by hot magma flows that dramatically altered the Columbia River region's landscape. The study, published in Scientific Reports, used oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to analyze 27 samples from dikes in the flood-basalt province.
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.
Recent record-high water levels have caused significant impacts on Great Lakes state parks, including shoreline erosion and flooding. The study found that 50% of the surveyed parks were affected, with total damage costs ranging from $50,000 to extensive repairs.
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 analyzed tropical cyclone speed and daily precipitation in China from 1961 to 2017, identifying a slowdown of 10-11% over the coast. This resulted in increased flood risks as slower cyclones increased passage time and total local rainfall.
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 at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology devised a new analytical tool to predict flood risk by adapting a classical statistical model for analyzing extreme rainfall in large datasets. The model demonstrated potential in capturing observed patterns in northeast America, promising improved prediction capabilities.
Heavy rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour were observed north of Tropical Storm Cristobal, leading to large amounts of rain on the ground. The National Hurricane Center predicts storm total rainfall accumulations of 5-10 inches across portions of the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane flooding can lead to widespread water pollution, affecting human health and ecosystems. Researchers have developed an algorithm to identify flooded areas beyond state-mapped hazard zones, with a focus on vulnerable communities and potential sources of pollution.
NASA analyzed rainfall generated by post-tropical cyclone Bertha, which brought heavy rain to the Carolinas and Midwest. The GPM core satellite measured rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour in south central West Virginia, prompting flash flood watches for several states.
Researchers found that flooding and invasive species alter mercury pathways through food webs, affecting top predators like fish and birds. Algae and blackfly larvae are key sources of mercury, which can be transported to land by flying adults.
Researchers found that groundwater inundation is the most extensive flood source, while direct marine inundation is the least. They developed a method to identify vulnerable locations and critical infrastructure likely to fail, emphasizing the need for site-specific consideration.
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.
A team of researchers from UTA is collaborating with DFW Airport to improve storm water management strategies and runway operations. They are developing an advanced flood warning system that can mitigate potential issues before they happen.
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.
A study published in Scientific Reports predicts that extreme coastal flooding events in the US will double every five years if sea levels continue to rise as expected. By 2050, current extreme water levels are projected to transition from 50-year floods to annual events in 70% of US coastal regions.
Researchers investigate how ancient practices can inform modern resilience strategies in the face of climate change. Ancient communities adapted by leaving coastal areas during sea-level rise, using prickly pear cactus as a defensive barrier.
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.
The study found that extreme rainfall days have increased significantly in metropolitan São Paulo, with a four-fold rise over the past seven decades. The researchers also observed an increase in consecutive dry days, suggesting that heavy rainfall events are becoming more concentrated in shorter periods.
Researchers have created a preliminary design for giant kinetic umbrellas to provide shade during fair weather and form a flood barrier in advance of storms. The proposed structures, made of reinforced concrete, would be able to withstand acute storm surges with stability at 75% of their deployed height.
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.
A new study has found that current flood risk estimates rely on inadequate methods for calculating damage, which match poorly with observations. A beta distribution characterizes building damage at a given flood depth, revealing a high-variability relationship between depth and damage.
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.
A global study found that mangroves provide $65 billion in annual flood protection benefits, reducing flood damages and increasing coastal safety. Mangrove restoration can be easily done and has already been successful in projects worldwide.
Research finds that river delta vegetation can delay and reduce floodwaters, providing communities more time to prepare for storm surges and flooding. The study suggests that managing vegetation type can decrease the impact of coastal flooding by reducing downstream water height.
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.
A new study published in Science Advances shows that freshwater flowing into the North Pacific Ocean triggered widespread changes throughout the northern hemisphere during the last ice age. The researchers used computer modeling and fossil records to track the movement of floodwaters, which mixed with saltwater and altered ocean circul...
Nur Yazdani's new tool helps stakeholders design home slab elevations to protect against future storms, reducing economic losses and casualties. The software will be tested in four Texas counties and includes outreach education for homeowners.