Articles tagged with Floods
The Resilient Tunnel Project developed an inflatable cylinder capable of containing 35,000 gallons of water or air to seal off a section of tunnel in emergency situations. The plug's design overcame challenges related to its size, strength, and pliability, with the help of advanced materials like Vectran and polyurethane.
A new £2.9m project aims to forecast the future of the UK's coastline up to 100 years, addressing flooding and erosion risks.
A stalled frontal system is generating severe weather in eastern Texas and Oklahoma, with cloud top temperatures of up to -63.6°F detected by NASA's Aqua satellite. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for the region due to heavy rainfall and isolated thunderstorms.
New research suggests nearly four million Americans, covering an area larger than Maryland, are at risk of severe flooding due to rising sea levels. The US Government's current flood zones may not be stable with predicted sea level rise, and many locations will experience high flooding every decade or more often.
Georgia Tech associate professor Hermann Fritz and his team are studying the impact of the 2011 Tohoku tsunami on the Sanriku coast using terrestrial laser scanners and eyewitness video. They have mapped the tsunami's height and flood zone, which could produce flooding forecasts to influence evacuation plans and building designs.
A study found that allowing the levee to break would have created more damage than constant water pressure. The city of Cairo occupied a small land area, and floodwaters rising to 61.72 feet posed significant threats to downstream levees.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Cyclone System 92S caused flooding in northern Madagascar, with intense storms dropping rainfall at rates of over 50mm/hr. The TRMM satellite measured high rain totals, including gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall along the Mozambique Channel.
Researchers from Princeton University and MIT found that projected increases in sea level and storm intensity brought on by climate change would make devastating storm surges more frequent. They developed a simulation tool that can predict the severity of future flooding an area can expect.
A Simon Fraser University professor will present on how climate change is expected to impact historical sea level changes in the Pacific Northwest. The talk highlights the vulnerability of low-lying coastlines in the region, particularly those with large human populations and infrastructure.
Scientists propose mass melting as new force behind volcanic activity in eastern Oregon, suggesting a dynamic rupture lasting two million years across the Farallon slab. The study aims to explain the origins of sudden, massive eruptions of lava at the planet's surface.
Cyclone Giovanna has caused flooding and damage in Madagascar before entering the Mozambique Channel. The storm is expected to move westward towards Mozambique's southeastern coast, with wind shear preventing further strengthening.
A new study suggests that Colorado's Rocky Mountains will experience a near elimination of surface hail by 2070. The warmer climate could lead to more runoff and an increased risk of flash floods. Meanwhile, intense storms may produce more hail inside clouds, but it will melt quickly and fall as rain.
A Rice University-led team recommends building a floodgate across the Houston Ship Channel and adding new levees to protect densely populated areas. The report also suggests creating a 130-mile-long coastal recreation area to utilize wetlands as a natural storm-surge barrier.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered a molecular mechanism plants use to sense low oxygen levels during flooding, enabling potential high-yielding, flood-tolerant crops. This breakthrough could help tackle catastrophic flooding's impact on agricultural production worldwide.
Researchers at UC Riverside and the University of Nottingham have discovered how plants sense low oxygen levels to survive flooding. They found that key plant proteins become unstable when oxygen is normal but stable when oxygen levels drop, allowing plants to tap into their energy reserves and survive in low-oxygen conditions.
Scientists at Delft University of Technology have developed a new method using luminescence dating to determine the year of historic storm floods. By analyzing layers of sediment in the dunes near Heemskerk, they were able to establish that the flood occurred in either 1775 or 1776.
Researchers at the Geological Society of America meeting connect extreme weather events over the past decade to climate change. Warmer oceans, fueled by increased carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas releases, contribute to more frequent and intense storms, droughts, and wildfires.
Typhoon Roke is bringing intense rainfall to Japan, with areas seeing rain fall at 2 inches/50 mm per hour. Heavy rains are already causing rivers to overflow and prompting evacuations for over 1.1 million people in central Japan's Aichi prefecture.
Researchers studied arroyo cycles and canyon paleoflood records in Utah, magma formation in the Karakoram shear zone in India, and brine origin in the Alberta Basin. They found that arroyo cycles control chronologies of paleoflood sequences and that magma formation in the Karakoram shear zone provides pathways for removing magma from d...
Tropical Storm Lee caused massive rainfall across central Louisiana, Mississippi, and northern Alabama, with some areas receiving over 250 mm. The TRMM satellite's TMPA analysis showed heavy rains extending inland from the Gulf of Mexico, with Chattanooga Tennessee breaking its all-time 24-hour rainfall record.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite has compiled rainfall total maps for Hurricane Irene, showing the eastern US was hit with extreme rainfall. The heaviest rainfalls were recorded in North Carolina and northeastern states, causing widespread flooding and damage.
NASA satellites continue to monitor the remnants of Hurricane Irene as they bring heavy rainfall and gusty winds to eastern Canada. The storm's massive size and remnants have caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in Quebec, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Dutch company Dura Vermeer has developed a floating house technology using light plastic foam and composite materials, allowing for larger structures without losing buoyancy. The innovation has potential to help countries affected by climate change and rising sea levels, such as small island-states.
Experts warn that climate-related damage to nation's infrastructure is on the rise, with potential costs exceeding $2 trillion. The summit identifies key initiatives for next five years, including assessing vulnerable infrastructure, developing risk assessment tools, and improving stakeholder dialogue.
The RainGain project aims to provide detailed precipitation and flooding data on an urban scale. TU Delft will utilize rain radar technology to measure local precipitation patterns in Rotterdam and other partner cities, enabling more effective urban water management and flood protection strategies.
Researchers discovered that flood basalts contain traces of ancient Earth's primitive mantle, challenging previous theories. The findings suggest that a significant fraction of large volcanic events originate from a modern mantle source similar to the primitive reservoir found in northern Canada and Greenland.
Landsat satellites have been monitoring the Missouri River for extended periods, showing heavy rains and snowmelt causing prolonged flooding. The USGS WaterWatch website provides real-time streamflow data, highlighting the devastating impact of the flood on the region.
Flood warnings remain in effect along the Iowa/Nebraska border as Missouri River waters continue to rise near Omaha. NASA's Landsat 5 satellite captured an image of the affected area, showing the Interstate cut off by floodwaters just south of Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Heavy rains in Canada caused historic flooding in Minot, N.D., with over 4,000 homes and businesses affected. The Souris River reached nearly four feet higher than its all-time high set in 1881.
A study using local newspapers helps identify coastal flood events in the Solent region of southern England. The research found a strong relationship between high sea levels and floods, highlighting vulnerable areas such as Portsmouth and Southampton.
Tropical Storm Beatriz rapidly weakened after making landfall in Mexico's western mountains, transforming from a strong tropical storm to a weak tropical depression within six hours. The storm's remnants are now moving over cooler sea surface temperatures with a slim chance of regenerating due to sub-80°F waters.
The Wallow North and Horseshoe 2 fires in eastern Arizona have burned over 487,016 acres, with the Landsat 5 satellite capturing images of the blazes. The satellite's false-colored imagery helps emergency managers plan containment strategies.
In June 2011, the Mississippi River reached historic levels, causing widespread flooding, with water remaining high in the floodplain. By early June, flooding had receded around Vicksburg, but the river's level was forecast to continue falling.
A record-sized Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' is expected, driven by massive amounts of nutrients from the Mississippi River. The predicted size could surpass 8,500 square miles, threatening major fisheries and ecosystems.
A study by CSIRO Australia found that the frequency of extreme storm surge events generated by Adriatic Sea tempests could fall by about 30 percent by 2100. This reduction in extreme events may have beneficial consequences for the conservation of Venice, a World Heritage-listed city built on 117 small islands.
Tropical Storm Sarika is bringing heavy rainfall to the South China Sea, with satellite imagery showing strongest thunderstorms south of the storm's center. Infrared satellite imagery reveals a fully exposed low-level circulation center, weakening the storm's circulation.
A low-pressure system stretching over the Caribbean Sea is causing heavy rainfall and flooding in various islands. The GOES-13 satellite captured an image of System 94L on June 9, revealing a minimum central pressure of 1001 millibars and cloud cover centered over eastern Cuba and Jamaica.
River flooding increases PBDEs in farm soils but not in milk from grazing cows. Milk consumption remains a potential source of human exposure to toxic chemicals.
Researchers from Columbia University found that evaporation from the land surface can modify the frequency of summertime rainfall, but not its quantity. This discovery is crucial for understanding prolongation of hydrological extremes like floods and droughts.
A low pressure area in the far western Caribbean Sea shows signs of tropical cyclone development, with a near zero percent chance over the next 48 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center. A second low pressure area is expected to bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to Jamaica, Haiti, and other parts of the Caribbean.
Gina Hodges, a University of Oklahoma graduate student, has been awarded $30,000 annually for three years to research flash flood prediction using next-generation radar observations and stormscale rainfall forecasts. Her goal is to improve current methods to protect public lives and property.
Recent Landsat satellite data captured by NASA and the USGS show extreme flooding of the Mississippi River around Memphis, Tenn., with a crest height of 47.87 feet, surpassing the second-highest record in 1937. The flood is expected to cause widespread damage and cost approximately $1 billion.
China's Sloping Land Conversion Program has helped restore eroded forestland while providing economic gains for farmers. The program has decreased soil erosion by up to 68% and improved the environment, but its economic benefits have been less pronounced, with some families struggling to find new work.
A new study reveals that people who experience flooding are more likely to perceive climate change as a pressing issue and take action to reduce their energy use. The research found that direct experience of extreme weather events can increase concern about climate change and willingness to engage in energy-saving behavior.
A new study by Cardiff University and Ipsos-MORI found that direct experience of extreme weather events like flooding can significantly affect people's perceptions of climate change. As a result, individuals who have experienced flooding are more prepared to take personal action and reduce their energy use.
The TRMM satellite measured record rainfall totals of over 300 mm (~11 inches) in Alabama and Mississippi, with eastern US experiencing 50 mm (~2 inches) or more. Flooding was reported from Louisiana to northern New York, with some areas receiving daily records
Satellites like GOES-13 and NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of a huge cold front stretching from Minnesota to Louisiana, generating tornadoes and heavy rainfall. The storm system is expected to bring up to 1 quarter inch more rain to the eastern US, with potential flooding in various areas.
Researchers found that flood-tolerant rice plants with the Sub1A gene not only survive flooding but also recover well from drought, growing new shoots. This breakthrough could greatly benefit rice growers and consumers globally.
As global freshwater demand is projected to surpass supply by 40% by 2030, Canada's expertise in water management is being sought to help countries address drought, flood, and unsafe water issues. The country's relatively abundant water supply will be an asset, but careful management is crucial for sustainability.
A new scientific study confirms that computer models at a European weather-forecasting center gave clear indications of the impending floods in Pakistan last July. The researchers found that if the information had been processed, forecasters could have predicted extremely accurate rainfall totals and even prevented some flooding.
A rogue weather system triggered flooding in Pakistan by pouring heavy rain on the barren mountainsides, which then ran into the Indus River. The World Health Organization estimated that as many as 10 million people had to drink unsafe water, causing structural damage of over $4 billion.
A Baylor University study reveals that different households in coastal communities in Belize adapt and cope with climate-related events through various behaviors and strategies. The results highlight the importance of empowerment, access to resources, and collective thinking in enhancing resilience.
Recent AGU research highlights increased flood fatalities in Africa due to population trends, not climate change, as well as lake warming caused by climate change. The study also found that the ozone hole affects upper-atmosphere temperature and circulation, while solar wind contains more oxygen than previously thought.
Elsevier will donate 10% of its revenue to MSF for all subscriptions to MD Consult, purchased between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2010. This campaign aims to provide medical assistance and support to people around the world affected by war, natural disasters, and other crises.
Rivers and streams face threats from human activities and climate change, altering their natural flow patterns and disrupting food webs. This can lead to the disappearance of large-bodied fish species, making them more vulnerable to droughts and floods.
Researchers are using analytics to identify patterns in the Dutch water system, enabling improvements in overall water management. Advanced algorithms and software will provide real-time insight into the water system, aiding decision-making for water boards and municipalities.
Tropical Storm Nicole brought heavy rain and flooding to the US East Coast, with rainfall totals reaching up to 550 mm in Jamaica and 500 mm in North Carolina. The storm caused significant damage and loss of life, with 4 deaths reported in North Carolina and 12 in Jamaica.
Yang Hong's project aims to increase Pakistan's capacity to reduce natural disaster risks through training, research, and early warning systems. The goal is to strengthen the country's flood risk assessment and management system, supporting vulnerable communities.
A new flood-mapping computer system is being developed to help emergency medical services crews navigate flooded roads in real-time. The system, led by UH Professor Gino Lim, will use color-coded maps to indicate the severity of flooding on major road segments.
A Virginia Tech researcher is developing a massive data collection system that relies on information captured by 'citizen scientists' to aid in disaster response. The system uses smartphones to collect photographic and sensor data from affected areas, which can be quickly sifted through by responders.