Water

Brazil: El Niño exacerbates effects of drought on Amazon groundwater

Using satellite images and data from fires, researchers have been able to demonstrate the relationship between the climatic phenomenon and the propensity for firesin the Amazon, creating a tool that could help with future prevention efforts.

Wildfires don’t just burn farmland − they can contaminate the water

The August 2023 Maui wildfires, the deadliest in the U.S. in over a century, devastated homes, tourism, and agriculture. Fires smoldered underground for weeks, destroying water systems, with some contamination still being studied.

This report focuses on understanding community impacts and needs after the August 2023 Maui wildfires. A rapid survey-based field investigation was conducted two weeks after the incident.

USA: New focus on strategic monitoring of wildfire impacts on water

After a wildfire, loss of canopy vegetation and changes to soil properties can occur that leads to more water flowing over land during rainfall. This can lead to flooding, erosion, and the movement of sediment, ash, pollutants and debris to surface water

Closer water monitoring needed as wildfires increase

With climate change leading to increases in the size and frequency of wildfires, UC Santa Cruz researchers warn that such disasters can change the chemistry of nearby streams that people and wildlife depend on for drinking water.

Israel: Extreme heat waves, floods and weakened security for 2050

Extremely hot days and heat waves will increase, floods and wildfires will intensify, agriculture and public health will be threatened and rising sea levels will encroach on Israel's coastline. Here is Israel's climate change forecast for 2050.

US: Lessons on wildfires' impacts to drinking water systems

Wildfire damage to drinking water systems can significantly delay a community’s economic recovery. The costliest disaster in Colorado’s history, the Marshall Fire of 2021, resulted in more than $2 billion in losses.

Pollutants from burning structures linger in waterways post-wildfire

As wildfires increase and burn more human-made material, more research is needed on the release of toxic materials into watersheds, according to a new review.