A historical look at flooding used as a war strategy in the Netherlands found that the tactic often failed but, in the long run, has helped to protect the land against future floods and sea level rise.
Hazards & Disasters
Posted inOpinions
Reality Check: Seismic Hazard Models You Can Trust
Probabilistic hazard assessments, even the most recent models, routinely underestimate earthquake effects. A neodeterministic approach comes closer to observed data.
Posted inNews
Tailpipe Study: Newer Trucks Emit More Black Carbon
A surprising increase is reported in Europe regarding the global warming agent as tougher emissions standards are unveiled in the United States for trucks.
Posted inNews
Connecticut-Sized Dead Zone Expected in Gulf of Mexico
An ensemble of four computer models evaluated river runoff, wind patterns, and other factors affecting the extent of oxygen-poor waters near the Mississippi River's mouth.
Posted inNews
White House Focuses on Drought and Wildfire Threats
Funding for water and land management, crop insurance relief, and jobs aims to lessen drought impacts and improve protection from wildfires.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Rainfall Fluctuations Hinder Projections of Future Extremes
Long-period oscillations in rainfall make even long records less useful for predicting future extremes.
Posted inScience Updates
Addressing Challenges of Mitigating Flood Risk in Mountain Areas
Workshop on Modeling and Managing Flood Risk in Mountainous Areas; Folsom, California, 17–19 February 2015
Posted inNews
Obama Links Climate Change to National and Global Security
Obama tells new Coast Guard officers that climate change poses a serious security threat to coastal areas and a challenge to the U.S. military.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Regional Nuclear War Could Cause a Global Famine
A detonation of less than 0.03% of the current global nuclear arsenal could cause fires that clog the air with soot. This soot could block solar radiation, leading to worldwide crop shortages.
Posted inNews
Protecting Earth from Solar Storms
A task force on space weather recently released a national strategy to reduce damage resulting from solar storms. The plan is now open for public comment.