Disaster management Archives - Page 6 of 19

Oct12024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Virtual Training for Firefighters: iFire System Revolutionizes Preparedness for Extreme Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

As summer draws near, the growing threat of bushfires in regions like Australia and the U.S. has intensified, with climate change making these fires larger, hotter, and faster than ever before. Notable events like Australia's 2019/2020 "Black Summer" megafires and the recent August 2023 Maui wildfires highlight the increasing frequency of these devastating disasters. Despite the crucial role firefighters play in battling these blazes, many are not fully prepared for the unpredictable and extreme nature of modern wildfires, putting their safety and decision-making at risk. In response to this, the University of New South Wales' (UNSW) iCinema Research Centre has developed a groundbreaking solution: iFire, an immersive virtual training system designed to prepare emergency responders for r...

Sep302024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Scientists Unveil New Findings on Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Scientists at the Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory on Mount Aragats have uncovered new insights into a mysterious atmospheric phenomenon known as Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGEs). Led by physicist Ashot Chilingarian, the research offers a deeper understanding of how thunderstorms affect the Earth's atmosphere and could shed light on larger cosmic processes. TGEs are intense bursts of electromagnetic activity that occur during thunderstorms, where electrons are accelerated to high speeds by strong electric fields. These accelerated electrons produce gamma rays, a type of high-energy radiation, as they collide with atomic nuclei in the atmosphere. The phenomenon has been largely overlooked in previous thunderstorm research, but scientists now believe it plays a significant ro...

Sep292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Breaking Discovery Earth’s Inner Core May Have an Even Deeper Hidden Layer

Breaking News, Environment

Scientists have uncovered new evidence that suggests Earth's inner core long believed to be a solid iron sphere may actually consist of two distinct layers. This revelation could potentially reshape our understanding of Earth's formation and the events that shaped its early history. "Traditionally, we've been taught that Earth has four main layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core," said Joanne Stephenson, a geophysicist from the Australian National University, in 2021. However, new research led by Stephenson and her colleagues indicates that Earth's inner core is more complex, featuring an additional, even deeper "inner-inner" core. For years, scientists have inferred what lies beneath Earth's surface by studying seismic waves from earthquakes. These waves t...

Sep282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Death Toll from Hurricane Helene Rises to 33 as Storm Devastates Southeastern US

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

The death toll from Hurricane Helene climbed to at least 33 on Friday as the southeastern United States grappled with widespread flooding and destruction caused by the massive storm. After making landfall near Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, Helene wreaked havoc across multiple states, leaving millions without power and prompting large-scale rescue operations. The storm, which began as a Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 140 mph (225 kph), has weakened to a tropical depression but continues to batter states with life-threatening rain and winds. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of catastrophic flooding across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Some regions of the Appalachian Mountains were forecast to receive up to 20 inches of rain. Widespread Da...

Sep272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mumbai Rains Cause Chaos: 4 Dead, Schools Shut, Flights Diverted Amid Heavy Downpour

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

Mumbai was battered by incessant heavy rains on Wednesday, leaving the city paralyzed as four people lost their lives, streets flooded, and transport services ground to a halt. The downpour, which has triggered widespread disruptions across the city and surrounding regions, prompted authorities to issue warnings, shut down schools, and divert incoming flights. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for Mumbai and Thane, signaling continued heavy rainfall over the next few days, while a red alert was sounded for parts of Palghar, indicating a severe weather threat. Fatalities and Flooding Chaos The torrential rain, which has been pounding the city since the early hours, led to multiple fatalities. A 22-year-old woman, identified as Swapnali Kshirsagar, tra...

Sep242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Cities on the Frontlines: Global Push for Resilient and Net-Zero Urban Development

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

As cities around the world face mounting challenges like extreme weather, housing crises, and climate change, urban resilience has become a central focus for ensuring long-term viability and quality of life. With 70% of global CO2 emissions stemming from urban areas, cities are now at the forefront of climate action. The urgency is only set to grow, as nearly 70% of the world’s population is projected to live in cities by 2050, putting further stress on infrastructure, housing, water, and energy systems. At the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings (SDIM), experts discussed the need for bolder, integrated strategies that prioritize a net-zero, nature-positive transition. The Urban Blueprint Session explored new business models and joint approaches to tackle both...

Sep232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Wildfire Activity in Siberia Has Doubled Driven by Climate Change and Feedback Loops

Breaking News, Disasters

Wildfire activity in central Siberia has doubled over the past two decades, with vast areas of forest scorched and massive amounts of carbon released from rich soils and permafrost. While Arctic warming is known to exacerbate wildfires, the specific factors driving these events have been difficult to pinpoint, complicating future predictions. New research by Huang et al. sheds light on the key mechanisms behind this surge in wildfire activity. The team found that the increase in Siberian fires is strongly linked to drought, drying soils, and decreased rainfall all symptoms of Arctic climate change. More worryingly, they identified a feedback loop in which wildfires further suppress precipitation, worsening drought conditions and making the region even more fire-prone. How Wildfires S...

Sep232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Researchers Develop Advanced Imaging Method to Probe Volcanoes

Breaking News, Disasters

A team of researchers from the CNRS and the Paris Institute of Planetary Physics has developed an innovative method for creating high-resolution, deep imaging of volcanoes' internal structures. This breakthrough technique leverages a network of geophones devices that detect seismic waves to capture not only the strong movements caused by earthquakes but also the subtle seismic noise from wind, ocean waves, and human activities. The researchers applied this method to La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe, providing an unprecedented 3D view of the volcano’s internal structure to a depth of 10 kilometers with a resolution of around 100 meters. This new imaging technique confirmed the existence of a large magma storage zone, organized as a network of interconnected magma pockets beneath the vo...

Sep222024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Finds Droughts Could Last 10 Days Longer by Century’s End

Breaking News, Disasters

A new study published in Nature reveals that the average duration of the longest annual drought periods could be 10 days longer by the end of this century than previously predicted. This new estimate, based on improved climate modeling techniques, indicates that the risks posed by droughts to societies and ecosystems may be more severe than previously thought. Researchers led by Irina Petrova and Diego Miralles examined drought projections from multiple climate models under moderate and high-emissions scenarios (IPCC's SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). They calibrated these projections using historical data from 1998 to 2018, focusing on the longest annual dry spells the number of consecutive dry days each year. Key Findings The study suggests that drought periods could extend by 42–44% on ...

Sep212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Reveals U.S. Cities Successfully Limit Floodplain Development Using Existing Tools

Breaking News, Disasters

Contrary to common belief, most U.S. cities are effectively managing floodplain development, preventing costly disasters by utilizing established ordinances, plans, and programs rather than relying on novel strategies. This is the central finding of a new study titled "How local governments avoid floodplain development through consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances, plans, and programs," published in Oxford Open Climate Change. Despite significant investments in flood mitigation, the cost of disasters in the United States has continued to rise, with floods being the most frequent and expensive disaster. The main driver behind these increasing costs is not just climate change, but also the growing concentration of people and infrastructure in flood-prone areas. A no...