In the 19/09/2023 edition :
What new data reveal about how hurricanes kill
By Yale Climate Connections on Sep 18, 2023 05:15 pm
New research released by the National Hurricane Center underscored the threat posed by water in hurricanes — finding that over the past decade, rainfall flooding has accounted for nearly 60% of all U.S. deaths from tropical cyclones.
Grand Canyon heat may become more dangerous
By American Geophysical Union on Sep 18, 2023 04:50 pm
Climate change may double the risk of heat-related illness at Grand Canyon National Park by the end of the century, a study shows. The results could could guide park authorities to plan ahead and build more shade structures and water stations.
Libya dam collapse: engineering expert raises questions about management
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 18, 2023 04:24 pm
Dams are usually built to withstand heavy rainfall or drought. The design and construction of a dam takes into consideration all possible effects.
Exploring just how extreme future storms could get
By Eos - AGU on Sep 18, 2023 04:23 pm
A novel approach to storm simulations could help prepare for increasingly heavy precipitation events.
The future of the Midwest includes hazardous heat, and most of our homes are not ready
By Nebraska Public Media on Sep 18, 2023 11:56 am
As temperatures start to cool in September, it might be easy to forget the scorching heat of just a month before. In middle to late August, parts of the Midwest experienced a streak of “feels like” temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
$303 Million ADB loan to boost flood resilience in Philippines’ river basins
By Asian Development Bank on Sep 18, 2023 11:23 am
The Asian Development Bank has approved a $303 million loan to reduce flood and climate risks and protect people and livelihoods in three major river basins in the Philippines, one of the most vulnerable countries.
Japan's pioneering early warning system offers blueprint for climate adaptation efforts
By World Economic Forum on Sep 18, 2023 11:15 am
Disasters have increased by a factor of five in the past 50 years, and this trend is increasing. In the last year, disasters caused damages of around $270 billion, making increased disasters risks one of the most significant impacts of climate change.
Climate change takes heavy toll on mental health in Bangladesh
By Context on Sep 15, 2023 04:22 pm
As Bangladesh faces increasingly extreme weather from floods to storms, psychologists fear rise in anxiety and depression.
Our planet is burning in unexpected ways - here’s how we can protect people and nature
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 15, 2023 04:10 pm
People have been using fire for millennia. It is a vital part of many ecosystems and cultures. Yet human activities in the current era, sometimes called the “Anthropocene”, are reshaping patterns of fire across the planet.
African Development Bank unveils new initiative to cushion farmers from climate change effects
By African Development Bank on Sep 15, 2023 03:18 pm
The African Development Bank has unveiled the Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA). The initiative is aimed at insulating countries against catastrophic weather-related events.
The Libya floods: a climate and infrastructure catastrophe
By Yale Climate Connections on Sep 15, 2023 02:45 pm
The disaster is Africa’s deadliest storm on record; seven of Africa’s top 30 deadliest weather disasters since 1900 have occurred in the past two years.
‘Beach teepees’ helping to control coastal erosion in Fiji and the results are positive
By ABC News on Sep 15, 2023 02:36 pm
A line of teepees made from tree branches on a Fijian beach trail off into the distance, but they’re not bonfires, they’re helping to fight coastal erosion and act as a natural sea wall.
Integrating climate change into biodiversity programming in Karamoja, Uganda
By Climatelinks on Sep 15, 2023 02:31 pm
The USAID/Uganda Biodiversity for Resilience (B4R) Activity implemented by RTI International supports the National Forestry Authority to conserve Central Forest Reserve water towers, including in Karamoja.
The importance of shining a light on hidden toxic histories
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 15, 2023 02:25 pm
When we investigated and wrote about the social and environmental history of dry cleaning in Indianapolis, we were struck by how few people outside of the dry cleaning and environmental management fields were aware of this environmental damage.
Libya floods show need for multi-hazard early warnings, unified response
By World Meteorological Organization on Sep 15, 2023 02:18 pm
The international community has mounted an emergency relief operation for Libya, where devastating flooding triggered dam bursts, killing thousands of people and sweeping entire neighbourhoods into the sea.
Climate change undermines nearly all sustainable development goals
By World Meteorological Organization on Sep 15, 2023 02:09 pm
A new multi-organization high-level report notes that at the half-time point of the 2030 Agenda, the science is clear – only 15% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track. Climate science and services are central to solutions.
Anticipatory action... in action in Viet Nam
By Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Headquarters on Sep 15, 2023 01:20 pm
Without the anticipatory action that FAO helped roll out in Viet Nam before Typhoon Noru, the loss of livestock, essential possessions, and even lives, could have been much worse.
As earth heats up, rain pours down
By American Geophysical Union on Sep 15, 2023 10:50 am
This study finds that global warming will result in heavy rainfall, excessive heat and their combined repercussions.
Editorial: California needs to protect schoolchildren from extreme heat
By Los Angeles Times on Sep 14, 2023 04:25 pm
Children are more vulnerable than adults to extreme heat, but at too many California schools authorities just aren’t moving with urgency to protect them from a fast-warming climate.
New federal dashboard tracks heat-related illness in US
By Jama Network Open on Sep 14, 2023 04:12 pm
A new US dashboard compiles Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses to 911 calls for heat-related illnesses and injuries, helping government officials pinpoint where resources and interventions should be focused.
'It torments you': US workers lack protection from extreme heat
By Context on Sep 14, 2023 03:52 pm
As record temperatures hit the United States and endanger workers' health, labor advocates say legal protections are insufficient.
Why the earth quakes – a closer look at what’s going on under the ground
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 14, 2023 03:49 pm
Earthquakes are part of the normal behavior of the Earth. They occur with the movement of the tectonic plates that form the outer layer of the planet.
Summer 2023 was the hottest on record – yes, it’s climate change, but don’t call it ‘the new normal’
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 14, 2023 03:41 pm
Unprecedented heat and downpours and drought and wildfires aren’t “caused by climate change” – they are climate change.
Why was the Morocco earthquake so deadly?
By Nature Publishing Group on Sep 14, 2023 03:33 pm
The quake, which has killed thousands, was unusually large for Morocco and struck a region where most buildings are not earthquake-resilient.
Ohio’s droughts are worse than often recognized, study finds
By Ohio State University on Sep 14, 2023 03:08 pm
A new type of analysis suggests that droughts in Ohio were more severe from 2000 to 2019 than standard measurements have suggested.
By World Bank, the on Sep 14, 2023 03:07 pm
In the worst-case scenario, Romania's first responders would be among the first casualties, significantly reducing their ability to help others. Retrofitting fire stations is an important first steps in reducing risks.
Predictive model comparison on a well-documented wildfire event in New Zealand
By Resilience to Nature's Challenges on Sep 14, 2023 03:06 pm
Notwithstanding its sophistication, predicting fire behaviour remains a challenge, mainly because fire properties, including rate of spread, direction and intensity, depend on variables that interact in complex ways.
‘The perfect storm:’ Idalia leaves Florida beaches vulnerable to future inclement weather
By University of South Florida on Sep 14, 2023 02:54 pm
A University of South Florida expert on erosion and coastal resiliency is working with Pinellas County to help identify beaches in need of nourishment following Hurricane Idalia, which washed away parts of the coast as earlier this month.
100-year floods could occur yearly by end of 21st century
By American Geophysical Union on Sep 14, 2023 02:30 pm
Some floods are so severe they rarely strike more than once a century, but rising seas could threaten coastal communities with yearly extreme floods.
Addis Ababa faces growing climate change risks like heat, drought and floods, study warns
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 14, 2023 02:02 pm
To investigate Addis Ababa's vulnerability to climate change, researchers at Tufts University and the Woodwell Climate Research Center analysed flood risk and temperature data for different time periods, projecting from the past to the future.
How rising water vapour in the atmosphere is amplifying warming and making extreme weather worse
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 14, 2023 01:50 pm
Precipitation is vitally important. It nourishes vegetation and supports various ecosystems as long as the rate is moderate. But as the climate warms, higher moisture levels increase the potential for heavier rainfall and the risk of flooding.
Fewer but more intense storms predicted over the Ganges and Mekong
By Newcastle University on Sep 14, 2023 10:10 am
Climate experts project a decline in the frequency of future tropical storms but an increase in their strength across the Ganges and Mekong basins, allowing for better future planning.
Morocco earthquake devastation worsened by age-old construction methods, expert says
By Northeastern University on Sep 14, 2023 09:24 am
Traditional construction methods were no match for the earthquake that rocked Morocco on Friday night, an engineering expert says, and the area will continue to see such devastation unless updated building techniques are adopted.
What Arizona and other drought-ridden states can learn from Israel’s pioneering water strategy
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 14, 2023 09:05 am
The Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority is exploring a proposal to import desalinated water from Mexico. Israel’s approach to desalination offers insights that Arizona would do well to consider.
Early warning system saves lives in Mozambique
By World Bank, the on Sep 13, 2023 04:58 pm
Trained local community brigades in Mozambique educate and alert communities about impending hazards, helping them prepare and stay safe during extreme weather events.
What's in a mosquito bite? How warmer climates spread disease
By Context on Sep 13, 2023 04:55 pm
Global warming and shifts in agriculture are helping mosquitoes to thrive and spread West Nile virus to Europe from Africa.
WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2023: Rising Star Award – Finalists
By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Sep 13, 2023 04:33 pm
Six inspiring women have been selected as the finalists for the Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Rising Star Award 2023.
More crops per drop: Four ways Armenia can conserve water resources amid a changing climate
By Asian Development Bank on Sep 13, 2023 04:31 pm
Armenia faces severe water challenges due to climate change and needs immediate and long-term strategies to safeguard its water resources and ensure sustainable agriculture.
WIN DRR Leadership Awards 2023: Excellence Award – Finalists
By United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction on Sep 13, 2023 04:20 pm
These six women are the finalists for the 2023 Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Excellence Award, proudly sponsored by SM Prime.
The economic benefits of weather forecasting
By World Bank, the on Sep 13, 2023 03:40 pm
As the remarkable series of record-breaking temperatures, storms, and wildfires around the world this summer highlights, the consequences of climate change are here. It is no longer (only) a future threat.
The failed dams in Wadi Derna in Libya
By Eos - AGU on Sep 13, 2023 03:23 pm
As the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in the port city of Derna in Libya becomes clear, the media has focused on the damage to the urban area and the appalling stories of loss. Before and after satellite images are now available.
New flood prediction model has potentially life-saving benefits
By University of Melbourne on Sep 13, 2023 03:13 pm
A new simulation model that can predict flooding during an ongoing disaster more quickly and accurately than currently possible has been developed by University of Melbourne researchers.
Study weighs the risks of climate geoengineering
By The Society for Risk Analysis on Sep 13, 2023 02:51 pm
New research shows that methods for slowing climate change — from planting forests to fertilizing the oceans with iron – bring dangerous risk tradeoffs.
Climate change is hurting the water quality of rivers, according to new scientific review
By University of Maryland on Sep 13, 2023 02:44 pm
Published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the paper showed that droughts, heatwaves, rainstorms, floods and long-term climate change diminished the water quality of rivers in most cases.
Serious games helping tackle serious problems
By Resilience to Nature's Challenges on Sep 13, 2023 02:41 pm
Serious games offer a playful yet powerful way for scientists, engineers, policy makers, and community members to find the best solutions to complex problems.
New method improves accuracy and resolution of lightning observations
By Chinese Academy of Sciences on Sep 13, 2023 02:29 pm
Lightning is one of the most awe-inspiring phenomena in nature, posing direct threats to human society, such as fires, power outages, and communication disruptions, and triggering other atmospheric phenomena and changes in ecological systems.
Glaciers could provide powerful new volcano monitoring tool
By University of Aberdeen on Sep 13, 2023 02:24 pm
Glaciers could become a powerful tool for monitoring some volcanoes, according to new research that shows for the first time how the altitude of glaciers located on volcanoes could signal future unrest including the threat of an eruption.
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Sep 13, 2023 02:13 pm
Can a coastal area have a drought? Yes, but it'll look different than an inland drought, according to new research from team based at Fudan University in China.
Controlled fires found effective for forest management
By Universidad de Córdoba on Sep 13, 2023 01:56 pm
A study by the University of Cordoba confirms that soil properties are only altered slightly, or even improved, in the short term after controlled burning
Century's end may bring annual 100-year floods
By PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd on Sep 13, 2023 01:49 pm
Most coastal communities will encounter 100-year floods annually by the end of the century, even under a moderate scenario where carbon dioxide emissions peak by 2040, a new study finds.
By Northeastern University on Sep 13, 2023 11:36 am
The floods in Libya are described by experts as a “gray swan” event — that is, an event that is rare but predictable – that points to longstanding deficiencies in infrastructure readiness and resilience.
U.S. saw its 9th-warmest August on record
By National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Sep 12, 2023 04:57 pm
A warm August wrapped up a sweltering Summer 2023 across the U.S., according to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.
What you need to know about climate change and drought
By World Bank, the on Sep 12, 2023 04:27 pm
Water deficits are fast becoming the new normal. Over the last half century, extreme “dry rainfall shocks” – i.e., below-average rainfall -- have increased 233% in certain regions.
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 12, 2023 03:26 pm
The recent events in Morocco and Turkey serve as a stark reminder there are much more pressing needs – particularly in regions with limited economic growth and an insufficient enforcement of standards.
Passing through the eye of Typhoon Haikui in Taiwan
By Eos - AGU on Sep 12, 2023 02:54 pm
Over the last two weeks, I travelled with my daughter Holly through Taiwan on vacation. Loyal readers will know that in the early part of my career I spent some time in Taiwan working on landslides triggered by typhoons.
Faster disaster: climate change fuels ‘flash droughts’, intense downpours and storms
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 12, 2023 02:46 pm
Climate change loads the dice for extreme weather. And as we’re now seeing, these extremes aren’t just more intense – they can happen remarkably fast.
Vanuatu showcases Climate Futures Portal to foster resilience and informed decision-making
By Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme on Sep 12, 2023 01:05 pm
The pioneering web-based platform serves as a comprehensive gateway to climate information services and tools, empowering users with access to cutting-edge science, mapping, data, videos, and resources to plan and implement adaptation actions.
Why your perception of climate change threats might depend on where you live – new research
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 12, 2023 12:34 pm
Not everyone notices or feels climate change threats to the same extent. New research shows there is a contrast in how people in different locations perceive this threat, largely along urban and rural lines.
What caused Morocco’s earthquake? A geologist studying the Atlas mountains explains
By Conversation Media Group, the on Sep 12, 2023 09:55 am
Earthquakes are difficult to predict and cannot be avoided. However, integrated studies of the region’s geology, geophysics and geodesy can help mitigate their impact.
