A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study found that hundreds of hospitals on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts are at risk of flooding from Category 1-4 storms, with sea level rise expected to increase this risk by 22% this century. The study highlights the need for coastal hospitals to prepare for greater risks in the future.
The global survey highlights intense exposure to extreme heat, water scarcity, and flooding due to climate change, with cities in developing countries facing significant infrastructure gaps. City leaders also report challenges related to private automobiles, biking, and walking, as well as budgetary concerns and mental health issues.
The six interdisciplinary studies will explore effective ways to expand UK trees, hedgerows, woodlands, and forests in rural and urban settings. Researchers aim to improve understanding of treescapes' value to people and the planet, supporting the Government's ambition to increase tree cover.
A team of international scientists found that many densely populated coastal cities worldwide are at risk from sea level rise due to land subsidence. The study used satellite images to estimate the rate of land sinking in 48 cities, with median speeds ranging from 16.2mm/year to 43mm/year.
A new study examines the impact of sea level rise on building foundations and proposes a method for inspection and repair to lower costs. The researchers estimate that the annual repair cost for foundations in Mobile, Alabama, could total $90 million by 2100.
The University of Missouri has received a $25 million grant from the USDA to help farmers adapt to climate change through climate-smart practices. The five-year project aims to improve crop and livestock resilience on up to 500,000 acres of Missouri farmland.
Researchers from Hiroshima University have identified two types of genes that are upregulated in both rice and thale cress when exposed to oxygen deprivation. The study suggests distinct molecular mechanisms under hypoxia in plants and animals, with potential applications for creating flood-tolerant crops.
A WVU professor is developing advanced software and a simulation lab to enhance power grid crisis response. The research aims to create flexible, precise, and rapid responses from both network infrastructures and human grid operators.
A study published in Nature found that floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense, despite improvements in risk management. The international research team identified two successful cases of flood management: Barcelona and Central Europe.
New research from the University of East Anglia finds that hydropower developments lead to flooding forests, driving biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruptions. The study reveals widespread species extinction, especially among large-bodied species, highlighting the need for sustainable energy security and biodiversity conservation.
New research shows that up to 50% of residences in Houston's Harris County would not have been flooded by Hurricane Harvey if it weren't for climate change. This equates to about 50,000 fewer homes damaged and billions of dollars saved.
New research from the University of Waterloo suggests that relying on stormwater management ponds to restore wetlands is unsustainable and lacks critical ecosystem services. The study found a low proportion of wetlands left in areas with high pond creation rates, posing an environmental challenge.
A team of researchers developed a unified model to predict human movement during large-scale extreme events. The model reveals 'spatiotemporal decay' and 'temporal decay,' showing people limit their mobility near disaster zones and exhibit faster changes in lower income areas.
Researchers have discovered that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can serve as a communication signal to indicate plant stress, which is critical for crop survival and can significantly decrease with multiple stressors. By monitoring ROS levels, farmers can identify plants under stress and take corrective measures to prevent crop loss.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that allowing cross-border evacuations can reduce evacuation time by 14% and improve public safety. However, intermunicipal cooperation is required to make this approach effective.
A new resilience sensing system can identify areas in danger of collapse and measure the success of conservation efforts. Global average resilience has declined over the last 20 years, with regions such as the Amazon rainforest showing signs of loss of resilience.
Researchers recover data from sensors swept away by massive underwater avalanche in Congo Canyon, providing new insights into sediment flow and seabed cable breakages. The study reveals the hazards of powerful turbidity currents and their impact on global communications.
A new study by Oregon State University found that Houston residents experienced a significant increase in chemical exposure after Hurricane Harvey, with 75% of chemicals detected at higher concentrations. The study used silicone wristbands to measure exposure to hazardous chemicals, including pesticides and industrial compounds.
A new national study found that households led by women, those with children under age 18, renters, low-income individuals, and minority groups are less likely to be minimally prepared for disasters. The researchers recommend targeting these vulnerable groups with disaster preparedness resources.
A new computer model developed by Louisiana State University oceanographer Giulio Mariotti shows that barrier island retreat will accelerate by 50 percent within a century due to rising sea levels. The model challenges the common assumption that barrier islands respond instantly to sea level rise, revealing a lag between the two.
Researchers analyzed the catastrophic failure of Japan's Misasa Railroad Bridge, revealing that flood hydrodynamic forces exceeded seismic design standards by nearly double. The study recommends increasing space under bridges to reduce submersion and designing structures to withstand overflow.
A new approach to developing flood maps uses confidence intervals to capture the uncertainty in flood predictions, providing a more realistic depiction of flood zones. This simplified method is more accessible and cost-effective than traditional methods, producing acceptable results with less effort and lower costs.
New research finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C could reduce human exposure to water scarcity, heat stress, and vector-borne diseases by 10-44% globally. The study also identifies West Africa, India, and North America as regions with projected increased climate change risks.
Researchers studying Mexico City's 700-year history highlight the need for democratic adaptation decisions and prioritizing climate justice over technological innovation. The city's complex water management system, built on an island in a saline lake, demonstrates trade-offs between flood control and urban development.
A new analysis demonstrates that mangrove and coral reef restoration can be a cost-effective solution for coastal flood reduction. The study found that the benefits from reduced flood damage exceed the costs of restoration, making nature-based solutions an attractive option for funding.
Researchers warn policymakers that inadequate charging networks can derail EV adoption efforts, particularly if floods disrupt charging infrastructure, affecting not just the immediate area but also farther away. Strong public confidence in the network is crucial for long-term adoption and meeting carbon reduction targets.
Climate-related events and air pollution disproportionately affect socially and economically disadvantaged children, exacerbating health issues such as preterm birth, respiratory illness, and malnutrition. The authors emphasize the need for simultaneous adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect children's health.
A new study found that conventional methods for calculating flood risk underestimate frequencies, especially at the 100-year flood, due to neglecting unique roles of each flood type. Researchers from DRI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Colorado State University investigated historic floods in 308 watersheds.
A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that extreme weather events exacerbate gender-based violence by creating socioeconomic instability, structural power inequalities, and mental stress. This can lead to physical injury, unwanted pregnancy, and long-term consequences for victims.
Researchers have found a signaling molecule that helps plants survive flooding by triggering a molecular emergency power system. Pretreating plants with ethylene improves their chances of survival. The study could lead to the development of resistant plant varieties to combat waterlogging and flooding in agriculture.
A new study reveals that Nor'easters produce flood levels just as severe as hurricanes, but occur much more frequently in the Mid-Atlantic region. The intense storms can cause significant damage and disruption along the coastline, with some events surpassing those from tropical cyclones.
A recent study found that global warming is likely to increase the frequency of strong Western Pacific Subtropical High events, leading to enhanced flood risk in East China. This is due to increased sensitivity of rainfall and atmospheric convection to sea surface temperature variability under warmer climates.
A multidisciplinary project aims to develop a decision-making tool to estimate the risk of water contamination in flooded areas. The research team will collect public data and conduct field work to test their approach in small study areas, ultimately enabling Québec to reduce health risks by better protecting water quality.
A new study proposes designing permeable pavements to reduce flood impacts in Australia, with the potential to store up to 50% of rainfall and reduce urban flooding by up to 50%. The proposed system takes into account local soil types and rainfall intensity, and has been tested on 107 towns and cities across Australia.
Researchers have identified a cork-like substance called suberin that helps protect rice roots from floods and drought. By understanding how suberin is produced, they hope to use gene editing or selective breeding to make the crop more resilient to climate change.
Researchers at Universities of Cologne and Bayreuth found that flooding frequency and topography determine the abundance of microplastics in an alluvial Rhine soil. The study, published in Science of the Total Environment, revealed that microplastics can accumulate in floodplains and be transported into deeper soil layers.
A Brazilian study found that inclusion of visually impaired individuals is crucial for effective disaster prevention policy. The research highlighted barriers to their participation and proposed solutions such as smartphone apps and education to mitigate vulnerability to environmental hazards.
A new online tool, HazardAware, provides disaster readiness reports for 13.3 million addresses in 196 counties along the Gulf of Mexico, including all of Florida. The tool assesses a property's resilience to hazards such as hurricanes and flooding, and offers customized mitigation information to reduce future hazard loss.
A new study reveals that future super cyclones will disproportionately affect populations in South Asia, particularly India, with increased exposure to extreme flooding. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels, over 250% of India's population may experience flooding exceeding 1 meter by 2050.
A new online portal developed by UKCEH enables forecasters to provide communities with more reliable warnings about large storms in the Sahel region. The portal uses state-of-the-art weather forecast models to predict storm behavior, taking into account factors such as land surface temperatures, soil moisture, and atmospheric humidity.
A new study provides a framework for predicting snowpack runoff and its impact on flood risk during rain-on-snow events. By leveraging hourly data from existing snow monitoring stations, researchers have created a decision support tool that can help water managers prepare for potential flooding.
A new study found that Portland residents are willing to pay $442.40 per household for green roofs that reduce stormwater runoff by three times per year, decrease urban heat island effect by over one degree, and bring in a significant amount of bees, birds, and butterflies. The cost would be added to sewage and stormwater utility bills.
A new study projects that climate change will more than double the frequency of intense tropical cyclones globally by 2050, increasing maximum wind speeds by up to 20%. This will disproportionately affect low-income countries and regions that are not currently prone to these events.
Researchers predict widespread increases in flash flooding events across the US, with a predicted 10% increase in the Southwest and 8.6% in the central US. Climate change may lead to more frequent and intense flash floods, requiring improved infrastructure and early warning systems.
Researchers used complex networks to study synchronized structures of extreme rainfall events, revealing regions with similar climatological behaviors. The analysis showed that extreme rainfalls are not independent but have a degree of similarity globally.
A new virtual reality (VR) experience is educating children aged 10-12 about bushfires, helping them learn how to be safer in emergencies. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of immersive VR experiences in delivering positive learning outcomes for primary children.
A severe rainstorm over Kauai in April 2018 resulted in $180 million in damage and 532 homes destroyed. The study found that supercell thunderstorms triggered the deluge, which set a new US 24-hour rainfall record of nearly 50 inches.
Research from Portland State University finds that cities are inconsistently placing green infrastructure in areas prone to flooding, disproportionately affecting non-white and low-income residents. However, some cities like Portland and Phoenix are making efforts to increase investments in these neighborhoods.
The study analyzed tide gauge observations along coastlines in Europe and found that changes in storm surges have altered the likelihood of extreme sea-level events. While some areas see an increase in extreme flooding, others see a decrease, with human-induced climate change partly to blame.
Scientists detected a seismic signal indicating a massive landslide triggered by the rapid recession of the West Grenville Glacier in British Columbia. The resulting tsunami devastated forest, salmon spawning habitats, and logging camps, killing hundreds of thousands of fish and potentially affecting bears and eagles.
A Rice University-led team is studying the impact of climate change on flooding in the Mississippi River, which affects over a quarter of the US population. The research aims to understand how climate warming will alter the frequency and magnitude of flooding by comparing paleoclimate data with modern models.
A new study by Resources for the Future and Columbia University finds that losing a hectare of wetlands can cost society an average of $1,900 in flood damages per year. In developed areas, this figure rises to over $8,000. The research highlights the importance of preserving wetlands for flood mitigation.
A study has shown that wind variations over the southern Red Sea are the main drivers of sea-level extremes, driving levels up and down depending on wind direction. This understanding is crucial for coastal planning and management to mitigate the impact of storm surges and coastal erosion.
A Brazilian study proposes a methodology to involve secondary school students in mapping natural disaster hazards and impact prevention. The students, aged between 2019-2021, were trained to identify areas prone to flooding and landslides using aerial photographs taken by drones.
Research led by Dr. Petra Holden from the University of Cape Town found that catchment restoration through alien tree management can reduce climate change's impact on drought streamflow. The study shows that clearing moderate levels of invasion can result in a 3-16% amelioration of human-derived climate change impact.
The Bureau of Reclamation released a new report evaluating current and emerging snow measurement technologies to enhance water supply forecasting. The report identifies under-utilized emerging technologies with potential to improve forecast accuracy in the near term.
A study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that narrow but deep channels across the coastal plain landscape play a significant role in moving water, particularly during floods. The channel networks covered over 12,000 square miles and were separated into distinct drainage basins.
Researchers used AI to predict flood damage in the US, finding a high probability of flood damage for more than 1.01 million square miles across the country. The study suggests that recent FEMA maps do not capture the full extent of flood risk, with 84.5% of reported damage not within high-risk flood areas.
Scientists monitoring hundreds of US streams with sensor technology are gaining insights into how freshwater vital signs shift in response to land development and climate change. The data, made publicly available, will help track changes over time and provide a better understanding of the 'pulse' of streams.
Research found that anaerobic microbial transformation on Tonle Sap Lake's floodplains produces substantial amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide, highlighting the importance of this process in tropical freshwater ecosystems. This discovery has significant implications for understanding global carbon cycles and the impact of climate change.