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Europe-wide flood losses to ‘increase four fold’ by 2050
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on March 3rd, 2014
BBC: According to the most accurate model yet developed, flood damage losses across Europe are expected to increase four fold by 2050.
The scientists believe that the continent's annual flood costs may be 23.5bn euros by the middle of the century.
Two-thirds of the projected increase in flood damage will be caused by human development, not climate change.
The study has been published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
One of the big problems for European flood disaster research has been...
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Thames breaks records for water flow
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on February 13th, 2014
BBC: The amount of water flowing through the Thames this January was the highest recorded for that month since records began in 1883.
New data from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) shows that the rate of water flow has now exceeded 275 metres per second for more than 50 days.
his is nearly twice the record duration for sustained high flow.
The CEH says that Southern Britain is likely to have the wettest winter ever recorded
Scientists from the Centre measure water flow on all the...
‘Massive’ reservoir melt water found under Greenland ice
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on December 22nd, 2013
BBC: Researchers say they have discovered a large reservoir of melt water that sits under the Greenland ice sheet all year round.
The scientists say the water is stored in the air space between particles of ice, similar to the way that fruit juice stays liquid in a slush drink.
The aquifer, which covers an area the size of Ireland, could yield important clues to sea level rise.
The research is published in the journal, Nature Geoscience.
The melting of the Greenland ice sheet has been a significant...
United Kingdom: Coastal retreat plan to curb floods
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on November 4th, 2013
BBC: A scheme to combat flooding by surrendering land to the sea will be completed on Monday on the south coast.
The £28m "managed realignment" at Medmerry in West Sussex has seen the building of 7km (four miles) of new sea walls up to 2km inland.
By letting the waters in, the Environment Agency says the risk of flooding for hundreds of homes will be reduced.
The surrendered land will become a wetland habitat for many species.
The sea has long been a threatening presence on the flat land of...
East Antarctic ice sheet ‘vulnerable’ to temperature changes
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on August 30th, 2013
BBC: The world's thickest ice sheet may be at greater risk from variations in the climate than previously believed.
Scientists found that glaciers on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) advance and retreat in synch with changes in temperature.
Since it contains enough water to raise global sea levels by over 50m, there is an urgent need to study the threat the researchers said.
The research has been published in the journal Nature.
Scientists have long been worried about the threat to sea...
Q&A: Fukushima leak problems
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on August 21st, 2013
BBC: This isn't the first water leak at the plant. What is going on?
The ongoing problem with water seems to be coming, in the main, from poorly constructed storage tanks.
Tepco, the company that operates Fukushima, is using huge volumes of water every day to cool the reactors that once generated electricity at the plant.
When the water comes in contact with fuel rods at the heart of the reactors, it becomes highly radioactive and has to be stored in large containers on the site where the water...
World’s most distinct mammals and amphibians mapped
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on May 16th, 2013
BBC: Scientists have developed the first map of the world's unique and most endangered mammals and amphibians.
The map highlights the fact that only a fraction of the areas identified as critical for the conservation of these species are protected.
Among the species highlighted by the map are the Mexican salamander, the Sunda pangolin and the black and white ruffed Lemur.
The research is published in the journal Plos One.
The Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project has...
‘Best estimate’ for impact of melting ice on sea level rise
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on May 15th, 2013
BBC: Researchers have published their most advanced calculation for the likely impact of melting ice on global sea levels.
The EU-funded team says the ice sheets and glaciers could add 36.8cm to the oceans by 2100.
Adding in other factors, sea levels could rise by up to 69cm, higher than previous predictions.
The researchers say there is a very small chance that the seas around Britain could rise by a metre.
The last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was highly detailed...
Steep decline for plants and animals
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on May 12th, 2013
BBC: More than half of common plant species and a third of animals could see a serious decline in their habitat range because of climate change.
New research suggests that biodiversity around the globe will be significantly impacted if temperatures rise more than 2C.
But the scientists say that the losses can be reduced if rapid action is taken to curb greenhouse gases.
The paper is published in the journal, Nature Climate Change.
An international team of researchers looked at the impacts...
Threat to Brazil tribe not lifted
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on April 19th, 2013
BBC: Campaigners say the Brazilian government is failing to protect one of the world's most endangered tribes.
The Awa people are believed to number just 450, but their territory has attracted thousands of loggers and settlers.
Last year a judge ordered all outsiders should leave the area within 12 months.
But the deadline has passed and no evictions have taken place, says indigenous rights group Survival International.
The Awa live in north eastern Brazil and survive as hunter-gatherers in...