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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Motorcyclists navigate through a flooded street in Kolkata, India.
Research briefs
India: Study finds air pollution levels could improve flood forecasts

An Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)-led international study has found that atmospheric air pollution could play a critical role in improving the forecasting of rainfall and urban floods.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Research briefs
Türkiye 2023 earthquake: When doctors are also survivors

A study of doctors’ experiences during the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes highlights gaps in disaster preparedness and calls for practical training, psychological support and policies that recognize healthcare workers may also be disaster survivors.

Bioengineer.org
Research briefs
Major cities worldwide are sinking, satellite data reveal

A study of 465 cities across 107 countries reveals global land subsidence trends from 2014 to 2023, identifying hotspots including Mexico City and several Asian cities. The findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and targeted action.

Phys.org
A flooded road with vehicles
Research briefs
Australia: AI improves long-term flood forecasting

Researchers developed advanced deep learning models incorporating attention mechanisms to identify important patterns in rainfall and river flow data, then combined the models’ predictions using a fusion approach to improve flood forecasting accuracy.

University of Technology Sydney
Dhunge Bazaar near Trishuli in Nuwakot, Nepal, shows extensive damage following severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi River. Floodwaters have damaged houses, roads, bridges, public buildings and other infrastructure, while security forces and rescue teams work to evacuate affected residents and clear blocked roads. Aerial footage shows the scale of destruction across the flood-affected area.
Research briefs
Nepal: Almost 300,000 people now live in flood‑prone areas

Study finds built-up areas potentially exposed to flooding in Nepal and neighbouring river catchments grew by 46% between 2016 and 2023. Rising exposure in valleys highlights the need to integrate disaster risk into land-use and infrastructure planning.

Conversation Media Group, the
Drought in the Amazon River, a consequence of the lack of rainfall in the Amazon
Research briefs
Extreme drought and heat signal a “new normal” for tropical forests

An international study reveals that the unprecedented heat stress of 2023–2024 will likely recur in the coming decades unless emissions are reduced. The Amazon is the most vulnerable region.

EurekAlert
Aerial shot of a wildfire raging through a forest in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Research briefs
Australia's bushfire crisis linked to colonial land-use change

Forest expansion and thickening after British colonization has created landscapes more prone to burning, amplifying the influence of climate change and propelling Australia’s bushfire crisis, a new study has found.

University of Melbourne
River flowing through green fields and hills.
Research briefs
Satellite data shows how flawed some river models can be

River models have long been used to estimate water in hard-to-reach or remote areas. New study from UMass Amherst shows the math can be off—way off.

University of Massachusetts Amherst