NH
Natural Hazards

Climate extremes

Multi-Risk Forecasting: Operational Reality or Scientific Ambition?

Reflections from a workshop on multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems for weather-related hazards.

  Reflections from a workshop on multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems for weather-related hazards.   With mounting evidence that hazards rarely occur in isolation, the question is no longer whether multi-risk impact-based forecasting and warning systems are needed, but how to build them [1]. Yet, moving beyond single-hazard thinking towards genuinely multi-hazard and t ...[Read More]

How scientists support Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies: the example of a European Ultraperipheral Department (Mayotte, the 14th of December, 2024)

How scientists support Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies: the example of a European Ultraperipheral Department (Mayotte, the 14th of December, 2024)

Ultraperipheral European departments like Mayotte are developing regions, often disproportionately exposed to natural hazards and struggling to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The eye of cyclone Chido, the most violent storm to hit Mayotte island in 90 years, engulfed the French Department on the 14th of December 2024. The extensive destruction and massive loss of life ranks this event as ...[Read More]

Taking the risk personally: how perceived flood experience relates to risk perception, sensed coping appraisal, and protective behaviour

Taking the risk personally:  how perceived flood experience relates to risk perception, sensed coping appraisal, and  protective behaviour

The frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and storms, are increasing globally, putting societies and infrastructures worldwide at risk [1]. These developments demand effective adaptation measures and ways to enhance societal resilience. Consequently, it is necessary to understand how people perceive and respond to natural hazards. Knowing that the occu ...[Read More]

Navigating the Ongoing and Predicted Disaster of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil): Career and Insights with Expert Prof. Enner

Severe flooding that left the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, submerged.

We are honoured to hear from Dr. Enner Alcântara, Professor at the São Paulo State University (UNESP) and leader of the Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis, Environmental Modelling and Natural Disasters Research Group. His research in remote sensing has played a crucial role in recognising, managing and mitigating the impacts of disasters, bringing out significant contributions. Today, we’ll ex ...[Read More]

A symphony of uncertainties: exploring the interplay between climate hazards and human societies

A symphony of uncertainties: exploring the interplay between climate hazards and human societies

Climate hazards are manifestations of the Earth’s complex climatic systems. As natural events, they have always occurred, yet changes in the global climate increase the frequency and intensity of extremes and their impact on the built environment and people. Predicting the nature, scale, and location of climate hazards and their complex interplays with anthropogenic factors is not a straightforwar ...[Read More]

From compound extremes to risk perception: conversations with the EGU Natural Hazards Division 2023 Early Career Scientist Award Winner

From compound extremes to risk perception: conversations with the EGU Natural Hazards Division 2023 Early Career Scientist Award Winner

I am pleased to interview Professor Ankit Agarwal from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. He specialises in hydro-meteorological (compound) extremes and complex networks and has been awarded the prestigious 2023 NH Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist award. Thank you, Ankit, for your time and for talking with us about your field of research.   1. Can you tell us more about y ...[Read More]

The 2023 Carnival disaster in São Paulo: an all time record for rainfall in Brazil

The 2023 Carnival disaster in São Paulo: an all time record for rainfall in Brazil

In February 2023, Brazil experienced its largest rainfall event on record, which devastated the northern coast of the state of São Paulo. This event caused landslides, floods, and numerous fatalities, making it even more tragic than previous disasters in the region, which already have been elaborated on in another blog post. The situation highlights the urgent need for effective emergency manageme ...[Read More]

Unravelling the Complex Drivers of Wildfires in the Era of Climate Change

Unravelling the Complex Drivers of Wildfires in the Era of Climate Change

In the last decades, the strength of climate change has been evident across the globe in many weather and climate extremes occurrences, including heatwaves and droughts. Those events are involved in all fire stages and influence all aspects of the fire regime [1].    Climate change is driving unprecedented wildfire in the Mediterranean region  The Mediterranean region is a climate change hots ...[Read More]

Repression Without Resistance: Answering Natural Hazards Related Disasters

Repression Without Resistance: Answering Natural Hazards Related Disasters

Answering disasters triggered by natural hazards is a profoundly political process; who can tell us about this is Isabelle Desportes with her study cases of Ethiopia (the 2016 drought), Myanmar (cyclone Komen in 2015) and Zimbabwe (the 2016/2019 drought). Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr Isabelle Desportes, a researcher who approaches disaster risk governance from the angle of politic ...[Read More]

Life with dust: its impacts and how to catch it

Life with dust: its impacts and how to catch it

In today’s interview, we have the pleasure to meet Dr Slobodan Nickovic, who won the prestigious 2022 Plinius Medal. Slobodan is a research consultant at the Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, and at the Institute of Physics in Belgrade, Serbia. Throughout his career, he worked for national and international educational, scientific, and operational institutions including the Uni ...[Read More]