Research briefs

Keep up to date with the latest research on disaster risk and resilience on the PreventionWeb knowledge base.

Explore cutting-edge research on disaster risk reduction and resilience through PreventionWeb's dedicated research briefs section. Our platform curates and highlights the most recent academic studies, providing valuable insights into disaster risk management. Each research brief distills key findings from peer-reviewed journals and academic publications.

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These briefs are designed to keep you informed about the latest scientific advances. Links to the full publications are always included, ensuring easy access to in-depth knowledge. Please note that this section exclusively features academic research, distinct from reports by international organizations or Non-Governmental Organisations.

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Research briefs
UOG study finds evidence that rising sea levels may be increasing salt in Guam's groundwater

Rising sea levels may already be affecting the quality of Guam's groundwater, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Guam that used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze more than 40 years of water quality data.

University of Guam (UOG)
Research briefs
Coupled AI and physics model improves typhoon-wave height forecasting

Current typhoon forecasting methods sometimes underestimate the largest waves during typhoons, but researchers in China have designed a new model that may offer improvements.

PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd
Research briefs
How would NZ’s vital freight system handle a big earthquake? Our study sounds a warning

Freight resilience is not only about how quickly infrastructure can be repaired after a disaster. It also depends on the policy settings already in place.

Conversation Media Group, the
Vessels queuing to enter the Panama Canal
Research briefs
Ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz region may be biosecurity risks when they leave. What can we do?

The economic ramifications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are much discussed. But so far, the risk of ecological damage following a long blockade of ships has been overlooked.

Conversation Media Group, the
Residents assist an elderly man in a wheelchair through flooded streets in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Research briefs
Disabled people face greater climate change risks – and they can also help NZ adapt

A range of disproportionate impacts on disabled people were cited in New Zealand’s latest national climate change risk assessment. Disabled people want to be heard, as well as play a leading role in guiding how New Zealand adapts to a changing climate.

Conversation Media Group, the
Research briefs
Pacific cloud brightening could weaken El Nino, but models reveal risks for Europe and Asia

What if it were possible to interrupt and effectively "switch off" the Pacific Ocean heating phenomenon as it starts to form?

PhysOrg, Omicron Technology Ltd
Research briefs
Global study links higher temperatures to increased suicide rates

For the first time, a study has quantified the impacts of climate change on mental health, particularly the incidence of suicide.

Climate Adaptation Platform (CAP)
House located in Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana, damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Research briefs
How does social vulnerability evolve after a tropical cyclone?

Analysis of 2,118 cyclone impacts across US counties found social vulnerability rises after disasters but falls in the long term. Researchers warn that apparent gains may be due to displacement and crisis-driven urbanization and not equitable recovery.

Eos - AGU