Knowledge Base highlights and editors' picks

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Every week the PreventionWeb team of editors selects the latest news and research, reports and publications on disaster risk reduction – here is their selection of the latest must-read content.

compilation of images of different types of weather like sun and rain separated by diagonal lines

Update

15 May 2024

Global temperature record streak continues, as climate change makes heatwaves more extreme

It was the warmest April on record – the eleventh month in a row of record global temperatures. Sea surface temperatures have been record high for the past 13 months. Extreme weather caused many casualties and socio-economic disruption.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Update

15 May 2024

Longer, more intense fire weather seasons

To investigate trends in fire weather, a key factor of wildfire risk, Climate Central analyzed data from 476 weather stations to assess trends in 245 climate divisions spanning the 48 contiguous U.S. states during the last 51 years (1973-2023).

Climate Central

Research briefs

13 May 2024

The 2024 Europe Report of the Lancet Countdown warns urgent action is needed to protect health from climate change

Climate change is here, in Europe, and it kills. This is the warning of 69 contributors of the 2024 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown , published today in the Lancet Public Health.

Barcelona Institute for Global Health

Green sprout growing on the coals after a fire showing resilience.

Update

15 May 2024

How ‘glowing’ plants could help scientists predict flash drought

In a recent study, a team led by scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California was able to detect signs of flash droughts up to three months before onset. In the future, such advance notice could aid mitigation efforts.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Tree rings show historic climatic changes

Update

14 May 2024

Summer 2023 was northern hemisphere’s hottest for 2,000 years, tree rings show

Across this vast area of land, encompassing Europe, Asia and North America, surface air temperatures were more than 2°C higher in June, July and August 2023 than the average summer temperature between AD1 and 1890, as reconstructed from tree ring records.

Conversation Media Group, the

An elderly man drinks from a water bottle on a hot day

Research briefs

14 May 2024

Heat’s toll on aging populations: Projections and policy implications

Over 200 million more elderly people worldwide are expected to face dangerous heat exposure by 2050, compared to now.

Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici

Update

14 May 2024

Wildfire smoke is back – fires burning across Canada are already triggering US air quality alerts in the Midwest and Plains

Dozens of wildfires are burning across Canada in May 2024 and sending unhealthy smoke blowing into the northern U.S. again. At the same time, the southeastern U.S. is getting smoke from Mexico, where drought conditions have been fueling fires.

Conversation Media Group, the

Update

13 May 2024

Geomagnetic storm shows need for space weather forecasts

One of the largest geomagnetic storms in several decades has caused a spectacular light show in skies around the world and highlighted the importance of forecasts of potentially disruptive space weather events

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Update

13 May 2024

Thirsty in paradise: Water crises are a growing problem across the Caribbean islands

Caribbean islands are in a water crisis, and their governments have warned that water scarcity may become the new norm.

Conversation Media Group, the

Documents and publications

14 May 2024

Global Report on Internal Displacement (2024)

The 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID) report presents the data and analysis behind the 75.9 million people living in internal displacement as of the end of 2023.