Scientists traveled to Kerala, a state in India recently devastated by severe monsoon rains. They found a vulnerable population that will soon face fresh landslide risks as a new monsoon approaches.
floods
Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Captured in Seismic Recordings
A flood that thundered through eastern Nepal in July 2016 left a telltale seismic signature and caused more erosion than local monsoon rains, new research shows.
Millions More Americans Face Flood Risks Than Previously Thought
A different modeling approach fills large gaps in the U.S. government’s flood risk estimates, revealing previously overlooked at-risk areas often surrounding small flood-prone streams.
Lightning: A New Essential Climate Variable
Lightning is a symptom and a cause of climate change. A recently established task team is working to make lightning data available and useful for climate science and service applications.
Massive Ocean Waves May Play a Role in Nuisance Flooding
When huge planetary waves that spawn in the open ocean reach land, they can raise local sea levels along the coast. Could tracking these waves help scientists predict flooding months in advance?
How Landslides Become Disasters
A new modeling platform, tested on two recent natural disasters, simulates conditions that dump landslide debris into rain-swollen rivers, often causing more damage than the landslides themselves.
What Is a Nuisance Flood, Exactly?
A more precise definition could help cities and governments prepare and respond to hazards.
How Much Land Surface Is Under Water at Any Given Time?
NASA Workshop on Remote Sensing of Inundation Extent; Boulder, Colorado, 21–22 May 2018
Seeing Surface Water From Space
Satellite-based optical sensors can detect, measure and monitor changes in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and wetlands, providing useful data with multiple applications for science and society.
The Challenges of Global Flood Hazard Mapping and Prediction
A new book presents the latest tools in remote sensing technologies and modeling approaches for addressing challenges and meeting future needs in global flood hazard mapping and prediction.
