Articles tagged with Natural Disasters
North Americans breathed unhealthy air for nearly 106 million person-days as Ontario wildfires exposed people on both sides of the border. Canada's slow fire season intensified within weeks, with Toronto recording the poorest air quality in the world.
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.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
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.
A new USC study found that LA County residents in evacuation zones experienced heightened levels of anxiety and depression after the 2025 wildfires. The effects were greatest among those facing social and economic hardship, highlighting the need for policies to bolster housing security and community support networks.
A new study has mapped landslide hazard zones across the US, revealing that 6.5 million Americans live in areas prone to landslides. The research highlights a significant urban-rural divide in disaster preparedness, with rural residents facing greater challenges in recovering from such events.
Asteroid impact created a massive dust cloud that trapped heat, causing widespread wildfires and spontaneous combustion. The cloud led to population collapse and atmospheric contamination, ultimately killing most dinosaurs and other species.
Two Lehigh University AI projects have been selected for funding from the Department of Energy's Genesis Mission. The RIVER-AI project will improve flood- and water-level prediction, while the REACT project aims to accelerate reactor-scale fusion energy by developing an AI-enabled digital twin. These awards strengthen Lehigh University...
A new study found that prescribed burns reduced giant sequoia mortality by 77% and increased survival chances fourfold during the 2020 and 2021 Sierra Nevada wildfires. The research integrated remote sensing data to quantify pre-fire fuel structures and estimate wildfire outcomes for over 26,400 trees.
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.
Researchers traced fire origins using network analysis of satellite observations, finding large fires often started from multiple locations. The study highlights the role of environmental conditions in determining where fires originate, which may challenge previous understanding of tropical forests' resilience.
A University at Buffalo study has identified a link between Canadian wildfire smoke and decreased bird sightings in New York State. Analyzing air quality data with birdwatching reports, researchers found that nearly half of the studied species were less likely to be observed when PM2.5 levels rose, including many migratory forest songb...
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.
The WVU team developed an AI framework that allows satellites to not only detect wildfires but also coordinate with one another and adjust their observation schedules as fires spread. This enables firefighters to respond sooner, taking into account the rapid movement of wildfires, dense vegetation, and hills.
A new study by NTU Singapore reveals that major earthquakes can trigger decades-long land sinking in Southeast Asia, affecting relative sea-level projections. This phenomenon may underestimate coastal flood risks for low-lying regions if not accounted for in sea-level modeling.
This study found that households in metropolitan areas with higher population density and income levels show stronger voluntary water conservation during drought. The AI-based scenario analysis showed that increased drought-related news coverage leads to significant water savings in these regions, but has a limited impact on rural areas.
A study found that forecast error types influence public emotion during disasters, with anxiety and worry being the most common emotions. The researchers suggest that communicating forecast uncertainty effectively could improve public trust and reduce emotional distress during future extreme weather events.
Researchers used high-resolution topographic data to investigate landslide mechanisms. They found that soil thickness varies systematically with slope gradient, controlling depth and size of landslides. This study offers a foundation for hazard maps and risk assessments under climate change.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has released a statement expressing concerns about the proposed OMB rule on federal grantmaking changes. The rule could reduce public access to weather information, slow commercialization of advances in weather science, and limit scientific collaboration.
Researchers identify OsFeSOD3 gene that supports chloroplast health while enhancing plant survival under drought conditions. This discovery could help overcome crop yield limitations and improve climate-resilient crops.
Research Scientists Edward Vizy and Professor Kerry Cook analyzed a storm that caused catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. They found that warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures weakened the Great Plains low-level jet, resulting in weaker storms and less intense rainfall.
Climate change is projected to increase frequency and intensity of hydroclimatic whiplash events, with regions experiencing both floods and droughts. This may lead to increased flash flooding, water quality deterioration, and soil erosion, as well as challenges for flood and drought planning.
New studies reveal potential for 30-day forecast accuracy boosts using machine learning and explore the impact of vegetation on ocean currents during the Little Ice Age. Researchers also find that La Niña events can slow global warming by amplifying each other's cooling effects.
A new study by Tulane University researcher Sönke Dangendorf found that human-caused sea-level rise has significantly increased the frequency of extreme coastal flooding worldwide. Coastal flooding events expected once every 100 years now occur on average about 12 times more likely to occur globally.
A recent study reveals that human-induced sea level rise has significantly increased the frequency of storm surge events, with a fourfold increase in historical 100-year events. This shift is largely attributed to rising sea levels, which now occur every eight years rather than once every century.
A study proposes a new mechanism, the 'delayed seismic champagne effect,' where earthquakes can trigger fires by releasing methane from soft sediment layers beneath cities. The research found intense shaking that drove methane into a supersaturated state, leading to localized ruptures and rapid gas releases.
Global wildfire activity in 2025 resulted in destructive and deadly fire events, with 335 million hectares burned globally - 16% below the long-term average. The fires accounted for 38% of all insured natural hazard losses, with Canada experiencing its third consecutive year of extreme fire activity.
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified a unique type of heat wave in Japan, known as 'moist heat waves,' which are accompanied by tropical cyclones and high humidity. These heat waves account for a quarter of the days surveyed and pose significant hazards due to extreme temperatures and torrential rain.
Climate change is accelerating Himalayan river migration rates by nearly doubled, with increased risk of flooding, erosion, and damage. The study reveals that thawing frozen ground and glacier melt are driving these changes, posing implications for water security and infrastructure planning.
Recent studies investigate the relationship between weather conditions and extreme events like heat-related mortality, tropical cyclone hazards, and changes in precipitation patterns. Researchers also explore new modeling methods to predict visually appealing atmospheric phenomena like 'ornamental twilight'.
A new study reveals Antarctica's sea ice collapse is driven by a triple whammy of climate chaos, resulting in record-breaking lows. The Southern Ocean's transformation led to the loss of vast areas of ice equivalent to Greenland, destabilizing global ocean currents and accelerating global warming.
A new review paper warns that wildfire smoke's health risks remain poorly understood due to a lack of direct biomedical evidence. The study argues that most current research relies on population-level correlations rather than detailed biomedical analysis.
Research on the 2025 Myanmar earthquake reveals that small differences in fault movement over time can build uneven stress, influencing where quakes start and spread. This study challenges the seismic gap hypothesis and suggests a broader shift in understanding earthquake hazard, enabling better quake risk estimates for major faults.
A massive 481-meter-high landslide-tsunami hit an Alaskan fjord, providing valuable lessons for those in steep, mountainous terrain. The event, triggered by glacial retreat, highlights the importance of improved monitoring to mitigate climate-related hazards.
Dan M. Frangopol has been awarded the third ASCE Wellington Prize for his groundbreaking study on probabilistic connectivity assessment of road networks subjected to ground motion and tsunamis. The research provides a more realistic assessment of network performance under extreme conditions, helping engineers and planners identify vuln...
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
New research from the University of Waterloo shows that social media posts can speed up wildfire response but also trigger costly over-reaction. The study analyzed Twitter data on California wildfires and found that while emotional posts can amplify urgency, they also distort resource allocation.
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%.
A study by University of California, Davis found that California's conifer forests have lost between 6% and 11% of their area over the past three decades due to wildfires. Reforestation efforts are not keeping pace with the losses, with only about 1% of deforested Forest Service lands being replanted between 2016 and 2023.
A study published in Geology found that up to 75.7% of landslides occur during low or no rainfall periods, with early-stage rainfall reaching the sliding surface through three runoff supply modes and two migration stages. The team recommends mass monitoring, public education, and engineering mitigation measures to prevent such disasters.
Researchers predict that glaciers in High Mountain Asia may threaten future water security due to rapid melting caused by warming temperatures. The study found significant losses in glacier mass between 2002 and 2023, which could intensify short-term flood risks and reduce long-term meltwater availability.
Researchers found that maternal anxiety about radiation exposure during the Fukushima nuclear accident was linked to increased rates of preterm births, lower birth weights, and severe birth outcomes. Socioeconomic factors, such as education level and income, played a role in mitigating these effects.
A new study reveals that human transformations in land cover have a substantially greater influence on landslide fatalities than physical factors, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income nations. This research highlights how increasing human pressure on nature worsens the vulnerability of socioeconomically disadvantaged people.
A new study reveals that natural disasters lead to a 69% spike in public protests across Latin America. Smaller communities tend to face the longest economic recoveries, with damage persisting for up to four months.
A study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg finds that wildfires pose an ever-increasing threat to biodiversity, with nearly 84% of vulnerable species facing a higher risk by the end of this century. Climate action can reduce the occurrence of wildfires and mitigate the risks to species worldwide.
Researchers from Kyoto University developed a numerical model to evaluate mangrove wave attenuation, revealing that root submersion and water depth significantly impact wave reduction. The study's findings suggest that mangroves can mitigate disasters and help communities adapt to climate change.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have discovered a link between tropical volcanic eruptions and droughts in Asia. The study found that large eruptions can suppress monsoon convection, leading to reduced precipitation and droughts.
Researchers from Western Colorado University found that low snowpack extends fire season and increases severity of forest fires. Years with low snowpack are consistently associated with higher burn severity across watersheds studied from 1985 to 2021.
A new perspective in Nature Water highlights how urban flooding measures often exacerbate environmental injustices for society's most vulnerable groups. The study identifies two main reasons for this unequal distribution of risk: higher exposure to climate hazards and limited resources, leading to a lower capacity to bounce back.
Salk Institute scientists created a high-resolution atlas showing how droughts affect plant cells. They identified a gene, Ferric Reduction Oxidase 6 (FRO6), that could be targeted to create more resilient crops. FRO6 expression in mesophyll cells partially maintained leaf growth under drought stress.
A UBC study finds invasive grasses are a sleeper threat on B.C.'s post-fire landscape, with the window to stop them narrow. The research highlights three actions to reduce risk: vehicle and boot washing stations, targeted seeding, and early herbicide treatment.
The study found that wildfire exposure and its socioeconomic consequences were associated with increased psychological distress beyond the burn zone. Integrating mental health care, housing stability, and economic recovery are crucial for disaster response and climate resilience strategies.
Researchers found that removing typhoon-induced precipitation leads to sharply declining soil moisture and more severe drought conditions worldwide. The effect of typhoons varies by region, acting as a condition that exacerbates drought in some areas, while mitigating it in others.
A research team analyzed 2.2 million thunderstorm events to identify a physical explanation for their formation. The study found that differences in soil moisture generate near-surface winds, leading to intense thunderstorms. High-resolution satellite measurements of soil moisture were crucial for this analysis.
Researchers found the Cascadia Subduction Zone to be more active than previously thought, with signs of shallow earthquakes and fluid flow detected offshore. The study suggests variable fluid pathways could alter the behavior of large earthquakes on the fault, potentially influencing the severity of future events.
The FAU project will integrate high-resolution modeling, observational data, and advanced machine learning to improve understanding of regional sea-level variability in the Gulf of America. The team aims to produce decision-relevant scenario outputs and empower stakeholders with actionable information for future-oriented decisions.
Researchers have shown that ocean temperature patterns limit the global spread of droughts, with synchronised droughts affecting only 1.8% to 6.5% of global land. The study identified 'drought hubs' in regions like Australia, South America, and southern Africa.
A German nationwide study uses a new simulation approach to map hospital vulnerability to flood-driven traffic disruptions. 75 hospitals across Germany are identified at risk of patient surges beyond their regular capacity due to an increase in demand by more than 30 percent.
Scientists warn that synchronised extreme fire weather, characterized by warm and dry conditions, has increased worldwide since 1979, straining international firefighting cooperation. The number of high-risk days with simultaneous fires is more than doubling, making wildfires harder to tackle and increasing air quality issues.