Britain Is in the Middle of a Drought – So How Come There’s Flooding?
Parts of the UK had more than a month’s rain in one day on Monday June 10. More rain on the following Tuesday, particularly in the north of England and…
Author: The Conversation
Rising Seas Threaten Australia’s Major Airports – and It May Be Happening Faster Than We Think
Most major airports in Australia are located on reclaimed swamps, sitting only a few metres above the present day sea level. And the risk of sea level rise from climate…
How Cities Can Approach Redesigning Informal Settlements After Disasters
Recent devastating flooding in parts of South Africa as well as the second massive cyclone to batter neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe in just two months has raised alarm bells about…
India’s Cyclone Fani Recovery Offers the World Lessons in Disaster Preparedness
Fani, a rare summer cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, hit eastern India on May 3. It is one of the strongest cyclones to have hit India in the last…
Why the Indian Ocean Is Spawning Strong and Deadly Tropical Cyclones
The Indian Ocean has made its mark on the global news cycle this year. In March, tropical cyclone Idai made headlines as one of the most severe storms to have…
UK – Floods Will Cost the UK Billions, but AI Can Help Make Sewers the First Defence
The UK will need to spend £1 billion a year on flood management to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, according to the national Environment Agency. The organisation’s chair,…
Cyclone Idai Shows Why Long-Term Disaster Resilience Is So Crucial
Cyclone Idai struck Beira, the fourth largest city in Mozambique, in mid-March with torrential rains and winds of more than 190 km per hour. It took days for the sheer…
Why Malawi Is Failing to Protect People From Floods and What Needs to Be Done
Severe floods in Malawi have affected about a million people and claimed 56 lives. This isn’t uncommon in the country. Between 1946 and 2013, floods accounted for 48% of major…
Why Flood Insurance Needs an Overhaul: 6 Questions Answered
Editor’s note: The Trump administration plans to significantly revamp the pricing of flood insurance. While some homeowners would see their premiums rise, others would benefit from lower rates. We asked…
USA – For a Flooded Midwest, Climate Forecasts Offer Little Comfort
Flooding in the Midwest, triggered by an intense “bomb cyclone,” has devastated parts of the region, which has been plagued by flood events in recent decades. Floods are triggered by…
Autonomous Drones Can Help Search and Rescue After Disasters
When disasters happen – whether a natural disaster like a flood or earthquake, or a human-caused one like a mass shooting or bombing – it can be extremely dangerous to…
Total Flood Defence Is a Myth: We Must Learn to Live With the Water
Floods happen. Rivers have always inundated their floodplains and the sea has always tried to reclaim land that has been taken from it. This is certainly true in Somerset, whose…
Fungi After the Floods – How to Get Rid of Mould to Protect Your Health
As Townsville residents continue the clean-up following January’s flooding, microscopic fungi, commonly called mould (or mold in US English), will be a concern for many. Homes and buildings affected by…
After the Floods Come the Mosquitoes – but the Disease Risk Is More Difficult to Predict
We’re often warned to avoid mosquito bites after major flooding events. With more water around, there are likely to be more mosquitoes. As flood waters recede around Townsville and clean-up…
Queensland’s Floods Are So Huge the Only Way to Track Them Is From Space
Many parts of Queensland have been declared disaster zones and thousands of residents evacuated due to a 1-in-100-year flood. Townsville is at the epicentre of the “unprecedented” monsoonal downpour that…
Design for Flooding: How Cities Can Make Room for Water
Science is clearly showing that the world is shifting towards a more unstable climate. Weather events like the flash floods in Sydney last week will be more frequent and extreme,…
