Research briefs

Without major efforts to rebuild Louisiana’s wetlands, particularly in the westernmost part of the state, there is little chance that the coast will be able to withstand the accelerating rate of sea-level rise, a new Tulane University study concludes.

Massive coastal flooding in northern Europe could happen every year if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, according to a new study. This will likely push existing coastal protection structures beyond their design limits, leaving a large part of Europe’s coastal zones exposed to flooding.

If a heatwave hit Melbourne and the power blacked out, most apartment buildings would bake, with indoor temperatures exceeding international health standards, according to a new analysis that calls for Australia to adopt standards to protect occupants against heat stress.

Social media can warn us about extreme weather events before they happen – such as hurricanes, storms and floods – according to new research by the University of Warwick. Key words and photos on social media can signal developing risks – like water levels rising before a flood.

Droughts can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers from where they started, like a slow-moving hurricane. A new study sheds light on how these droughts evolve in space and time, bringing vital new insight for water managers.

As climate change brings with it increased extreme weather events, one of the pressing issues for Africa’s farmers will be how to address these challenges. One dimension to be factored in is that men and women farmers are responding to the pressures differently.

The world’s poorest countries are experiencing a substantially greater increase in hot days and warm nights compared to wealthy countries as a result of human-caused climate change, research shows. The stark difference in impacts was revealed when the researchers looked at the increase in the number of days that exceeded the hottest 10% of all days recorded for the wealthiest and poorest countries.

The way we talk about climate change affects the way people think about it. For scientific evidence to shape people’s actions, it is crucial that science be communicated to the public effectively. Social scientists have been increasingly studying the science of science communication, to better understand what does and does not work for discussing different scientific topics.

In a research paper released this week, scientists have looked extensively at what could happen during an eruption in Auckland, finding that critical infrastructure could still provide some services in the face of extreme conditions.

A new study assessing potential future climate damage to European coastal cities has found that, if, as currently, carbon emissions continue to track the IPCC's worst scenario annual economic losses may range from 1.2 bn USD in 2030 to over 40 bn by 2100.