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Floating houses

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.

SourceEUREKA·DateAug 26, 2011

Reservoirs of ancient lava shaped Earth

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.

Venice to suffer fewer storm surges

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.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalClimatic Change·DateJun 10, 2011

Climate change hits home

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.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMar 21, 2011

Climate change hits home

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.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMar 20, 2011

Pakistan floods last summer could have been predicted

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.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 31, 2011

AGU journal highlights -- Dec. 3, 2010

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.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 3, 2010

A river ran through it

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.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience·DateOct 14, 2010

IU chemists develop new 'light switch' chloride binder

Researchers at Indiana University have designed a molecule that binds chloride ions but can be compelled to release them in the presence of ultraviolet light. The 'light switch' properties of this foldamer could be valuable tools for biochemists, allowing them to adjust the availability of chloride in their experiments.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 27, 2010

Climate change increases hazard risk in alpine regions says research led by University of Exeter

Research led by the University of Exeter finds that climate change is increasing hazard risks in mountainous regions, including glacier loss and rock-fall activity. The study's findings highlight the need for increased public awareness and preparedness to mitigate the impacts of climate-related hazards.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (A )·DateJun 15, 2010

Catastrophic flooding may be more predictable after Penn researchers build a mini river delta

Researchers created a miniature river delta to study flooding patterns and develop a mathematical model capable of predicting catastrophic floods. The model was able to reproduce the statistical behavior of flooding by analyzing how long it takes to fill a channel with sediment, allowing for enhanced flood hazard prediction.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 16, 2010