Research briefs

Keep up to date with the latest research on disaster risk and resilience on the PreventionWeb knowledge base.

Explore cutting-edge research on disaster risk reduction and resilience through PreventionWeb's dedicated research briefs section. Our platform curates and highlights the most recent academic studies, providing valuable insights into disaster risk management. Each research brief distills key findings from peer-reviewed journals and academic publications.

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These briefs are designed to keep you informed about the latest scientific advances. Links to the full publications are always included, ensuring easy access to in-depth knowledge. Please note that this section exclusively features academic research, distinct from reports by international organizations or Non-Governmental Organisations.

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Research briefs

The climate vulnerability gap: Developing a metric to advance racial equity and more just climate investment

In July 2024, global temperatures hit 1.64°C above pre-industrial levels. Vulnerable communities face disproportionate climate impacts, worsening racial disparities. A "climate vulnerability gap" metric can help align climate action with racial equity.
Brookings Institution, the
Broken green umbrella lying on the street with hail.
Research briefs

Many of the world’s cities have gotten wetter

Urban areas have seen nearly doubled rainfall over 20 years due to heat islands, aerosols, and urbanization. Cities like Houston show rising rain trends, while Austin is drier. Planners can use this data to better manage flooding risks.
Eos - AGU
Research briefs

Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying – here’s what that means for the planet

With the help of an AI algorithm, researchers grouped forest regions into distinct zones with similar fire patterns and underlying causes, uncovering the worrying extent to which climate change is fuelling the expansion of forest fires in high latitudes.
Conversation Media Group, the
Research briefs

FSU research improves hurricane intensity forecasting

A new collaboration between researchers in South Korea and Florida State University is improving hurricane forecasting by incorporating the effects of sea spray into the models that predict hurricane behavior.
Florida State University
Research briefs

Understanding landslides: a new model for predicting motion

The finding is an important breakthrough suggesting that a model designed for faults can also be used to predict landslide behavior. The new study used detailed data from two landslide sites in Northern California.
University of California, Santa Cruz
This image shows a group of refugees walking in a cornfield. They are Syrian refugees who are crossing the border to reach the EU.
Research briefs

Climate change impacts internal migration worldwide

A study analyzes how climate factors like drought and aridity drive internal migration, especially in rural and agriculturally dependent regions, showing regional differences and the policy needs to address migration drivers and support affected areas.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Research briefs

El Niño Southern Oscillation caused spike in 2023 temperatures, new study found

Researchers modeled climate to understand what contributed to the rapid warming of the planet last year
University of Miami
Research briefs

Global warming is happening, but not statistically ‘surging’, new study finds

Given record-setting heat waves around the world in recent years, an international team of researchers investigated if the rate of global warming has increased significantly, or “surged,” over the last half century at statistically detectable rates.
University of California, Santa Cruz

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