Network-risk: an open GIS toolbox for estimating the implications of transportation network damage due to natural hazards, tested for Bucharest, Romania Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-20-1421-2020 4 June 2020 Natural hazards have an increasing impact on transportation networks. In order to analyze it we developed Network-risk – an open toolbox for ArcGIS. The toolbox links input data such as network datasets (also OpenStreetMap – OSM – data), traffic values or segments which can be affected, determining the difficulty to reach an area and enabling evaluation of socioeconomic implications. By testing Network-risk for Bucharest we show areas difficult to reach by emergency units in earthquakes. GIS toolbox for estimating the implications of transportation network damage due to natural hazards, tested for Bucharest, Romania">Read more
Run-up, inundation, and sediment characteristics of the 22 December 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami, Indonesia Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-20-933-2020 21 April 2020 This article reports the results of a field survey carried out in the disaster area of the December 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami, Indonesia. It provides data covering run-up heights, inundations, tsunami directions, and sediment characteristics. The data can be used for the validation of hydrodynamic models, and they contribute to a better understanding of the Sunda Strait tsunami caused by the Anak Krakatau volcano. In addition, they are important for spatial planning and mitigation efforts. Read more
Modelling global tropical cyclone wind footprints Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-20-567-2020 10 March 2020 Assessing tropical cyclone (TC) wind risk is challenging due to a lack of historical TC wind data. This paper presents a novel approach to simulating landfalling TC winds anywhere on Earth. It captures local features such as high winds over coastal hills and lulls over rough terrain. A dataset of over 700 global historical wind footprints has been generated to provide new views of historical events. This dataset can be used to advance our understanding of overland TC wind risk. Read more
Measuring compound flood potential from river discharge and storm surge extremes at the global scale Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-20-489-2020 3 March 2020 When a high river discharge coincides with a high storm surge level, this can exarcebate flood level, depth, and duration, resulting in a so-called compound flood event. These events are not currently included in global flood models. In this research, we analyse the timing and correlation between modelled discharge and storm surge level time series in deltas and estuaries. Our results provide a first indication of regions along the global coastline with a high compound flooding potential. Read more
The 22 December 2018 Mount Anak Krakatau volcanogenic tsunami on SundaStrait coasts, Indonesia: tsunami and damage characteristics Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-20-549-2020 3 March 2020 On 22 December 2018, a tsunami was generated from the Mount Anak Krakatau area that was caused by volcanic flank failures. The tsunami had severe impacts on the western coasts of Banten and the southern coasts of Lampung in Indonesia. A series of surveys to measure the impacts of the tsunami was started 3 d after the tsunami and lasted for 10 d. This paper provides insights from the tsunami-affected area in terms of distribution of tsunami flow depths, boulders and building damage. Read more
First reported case of thunderstorm asthma in Israel Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-2715-2019 10 December 2019 During severe thunderstorms, cold outflows can eject pollen and dust particles from the surface, releasing allergens and causingthunderstorm asthmaepidemics in sensitive populations. We report the first case in Israel that occurred on 25 October 2015. The emergency room presentation records from three hospitals in central Israel showed a clear increase in patients with respiratory complaints immediately after the passage of a massive super-cell thunderstorm in the area. Read more
The first version of the Pan-European Indoor Radon Map Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-2451-2019 15 November 2019 The first version of the Pan-European Indoor Radon Map is presented in this article. The map has been developed using summary statistics estimated from 1.2 million samples. It represents an average radon concentration per 10 km x 10 km grid cell under the assumption that there are dwellings in the grid cell. It is a major contribution to the understanding of the exposure to ionizing radiation of Europeans and a first step towards a European radon exposure and, in the future, radon dose map. Read more
Ensemble models from machine learning: an example of wave runup and coastal dune erosion Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-2295-2019 29 October 2019 Wave runup is important for characterizing coastal vulnerability to wave action; however, it is complex and uncertain to predict. We use machine learning with a high-resolution dataset of wave runup to develop an accurate runup predictor that includes prediction uncertainty. We show how uncertainty in wave runup predictions can be used practically in a model of dune erosion to make ensemble predictions that provide more information and greater predictive skill than a single deterministic model. Read more
Geologic and geomorphic controls on rockfall hazard: how well do past rockfalls predict future distributions? Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-2249-2019 11 October 2019 Here we evaluate geologic, geomorphic, and anthropogenic controls on rockfall hazard and highlight the complexity of interpreting future rockfall hazard based on former boulder distributions. To evaluate how past rockfall deposits relate to contemporary rockfall hazard, we mapped then compared the locations, physical characteristics, and lithologies of rockfall boulders deposited during the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence (n= 185) with their prehistoric counterparts (n= 1093). Read more
Understanding the spatiotemporal development of human settlement in hurricane-prone areas on the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts using nighttime remote sensing Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences DOI 10.5194/nhess-19-2141-2019 1 October 2019 This study examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of nighttime satellite-derived human settlement in response to different levels of hurricane proneness in a period from 1992 to 2013. It confirms theSnow Belt-to-Sun BeltUS population shift trend. The results also suggest that hurricane-exposed human settlement has grown in extent and area, as more hurricane exposure has experienced a larger increase rate in settlement intensity. Read more
