The Levant region, comprising Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Iraq, as well as countries along the Central American “Dry Corridor,” including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, suffer from frequent drought and heavy precipitation events. Drought induces stress on water resources and the agricultural community, which can serve as catalysts to conflict.
Turning Over a New Leaf: Modeling Green Infrastructure in Atlanta
Residents of Metro Atlanta pay the highest rates in the nation for municipal water and sewer, in part, due to massive recent investments in infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff. As development continues at a rapid pace in Atlanta and its suburbs, expanding areas of impervious surface will continue to exacerbate this problem.
Bringing Back the Bayou
Erosion, land subsidence, and sea level rise along the Louisiana coast have led to 4,900 square kilometers of land loss since the 1930s. It is estimated that Louisiana has the potential to lose an additional 4,500 square kilometers over the next 50 years if no restoration action is taken.
Drought and the Factors That Make It — Monitoring Drought from Space
Category: Managing Water Quality and Precipitation Anomalies Project Team: Uruguay Agriculture III Team Location: International Research Institute for Climate and Society – Palisades, New York Authors: Jerrod Lessel Andrew Kruczkiewicz Mentors/Advisors: Dr. Pietro Ceccato (International Research Institute for Climate Society, The Earth Institute, Columbia University) Past/Other Contributors: Jerrod Lessel (Center Lead) Alex Sweeney Abstract: The importance of monitoring drought is indispensable for … Read More
Inundated: Diving into a Historical Perspective on Caribbean Sargassum
In the years 2011 and 2015, the nations of the Caribbean Sea were overwhelmed by the unprecedented quantity of Sargassum that washed ashore. This issue prompted international discussion to better understand the origins, distribution, and movement of Sargassum, a free-floating brown macro alga with ecological, environmental, and commercial importance.
The Calm Before the Storm: Lake Victoria Severe Weather Indicators
The African Great Lakes lie along the East African Rift Valley and play an important role in the economy and culture of the millions of people in the region. Intense storms can develop around the lakes with little warning and create life-threatening hazards to fisherman caught out on the lakes during these events.
Wise Decisions: Remote Flood Monitoring in Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is located in the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia. Mountainous terrain increases the amount of runoff into local drainage basins during strong storms, which can increase the frequency of flash floods.
Phoenix Rising: Urban Heat Island in Maricopa County
Extreme heat causes and exacerbates a number of health problems, leading to hospitalization and death in some cases. The problem of severe heat is notably felt in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the socially disadvantaged and physically vulnerable are especially susceptible to the effects of extreme heat.
Fire Distinguisher: Using SMAP Data to Improve Wildfire Predictions
Each year, Texas experiences severe droughts, making large areas of the state vulnerable to wildfires that damage agriculture, infrastructure, and habitats across Texas. Texas Fire Services stated in its most recent report that just under 18,500 wildland fires occurred in 2014 causing almost $2 million in damages.
Send in the Clouds: Examining Air Quality in the Gulf of Mexico
The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Gulf of Mexico houses more than 3,000 offshore oil and gas production facilities. These facilities emit criteria pollutants that are known to have both human health and environmental impacts.