Knowledge Base highlights and editors' picks

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Every week the PreventionWeb team of editors selects the latest news and research, reports and publications on disaster risk reduction – here is their selection of the latest must-read content.

Update

14 December 2022

Record low water levels on the Mississippi River in 2022 show how climate change is altering large rivers

Rivers are critical corridors that connect cities and ecosystems alike. When drought develops, water levels fall, making river navigation harder and more expensive.

Conversation Media Group, the

A farmer holds a corn leaf full of holes eaten out by pests

Update

14 December 2022

Helping Africa’s farmers control climate-induced pests

The spread of invasive species across Sub-Saharan Africa is expedited by porous borders with poor phytosanitary checks, say the scientists. They believe this needs to be addressed as a priority, rather than relying on the extensive use of chemicals.

Science and Development Network

Research briefs

14 December 2022

Signals from the ionosphere could improve tsunami forecasts

Research from the University of Washington shows that signals from the upper atmosphere could improve tsunami forecasting and, someday, help track ash plumes and other impacts after a volcanic eruption.

University of Washington

Update

8 December 2022

Protecting poor neighborhoods from landslide risk

As low-income, informal settlements bloom in the tropics, their risk of landslides increases. A new modeling tool incorporates urbanization factors to protect the region’s poorest neighborhoods.

American Geophysical Union

Eos - AGU

Satellite image of Hurrican Ian heading towards Florida, USA.

Update

30 November 2022

2022 hurricane season: Fewer storms than anticipated, but still extremely damaging

This year’s hurricane season in the North Atlantic produced fewer storms than originally feared. However, Hurricane Ian, one of the strongest hurricanes to ever make landfall in the US, hit the Florida coast and caused devastating damage.

Munich Re Foundation

Update

13 December 2022

Pioneering heat stress scale to be trialed in Western Sydney

Sydney researchers are developing a heat stress scale similar to a UV index, with an accompanying app to help the public handle the heat and avoid the risk of health problems from heatwaves.

University of Sydney

Research briefs

12 December 2022

Extremely hot and cold days linked to cardiovascular deaths

More heart failure deaths were linked with extreme temperatures than other heart conditions, from an international study in the journal Circulation

The American Heart Association

Documents and publications

13 December 2022

Flood displacement risk: Assessment for Fiji and Vanuatu in current and future climate scenarios

This report addresses the information gap concerning the growing concentration of people and assets in low-lying urban coastal areas in Fiji and Vanuatu

Mozambique - aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai, 2021

Research briefs

30 November 2022

Tropical cyclones on the rise in low-and middle-income countries yet remain least studied

A new invited perspective from a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health illustrates the increases in adverse public health outcomes following tropical cyclones, especially in communities with existing health conditions.

Mailman School of Public Health (Columbia University)

This image shows the cover of the publication "Climate investment opportunities in India's cooling sector".

Documents and publications

12 December 2022

Climate investment opportunities in India’s cooling sector

The study finds that finance by multilateral development banks, financial institutions and the private sector will play a role in helping India develop financial instruments and models to accelerate the adoption of sustainable cooling measures.