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Agriculture & Environment: Natural disasters

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Here is a list of the latest articles

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Benin farmers unite against effects of climate change

Local knowledge forms the backbone of a programme in Benin that aims to help farmers adapt to the effects of climate change.

13 October 2009 | EN | FR

Soil cracked from drought

Global warming could increase negative effects of El Niño

Global warming may affect the central Pacific El Niño, increasing its occurrence and leading to severe droughts in India.

25 September 2009 | EN

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Millions at risk of flooding as river deltas sink

River deltas across the world are sinking, leaving millions of people exposed to the risk of severe flooding.

24 September 2009 | EN

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More time to unravel the African monsoon

Research that has enrichened understanding of the African monsoon will be extended for another decade.

11 September 2009 | EN | FR

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Mobile messages could aid early warning in the Maldives

A new report has indicated that text messaging could play a vital role in an early warning system for natural disasters in the Maldives.

18 August 2009 | EN

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Type of El Niño could improve hurricane forecasts

Differentiating between two types of El Niño could make it easier to forecast bad hurricane seasons early, say researchers.

27 July 2009 | EN | ES

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Mobile phone alerts to warn of disaster in Bangladesh

An early warning system for natural disasters using mobile phone messaging is being trialled in Bangladesh.

Source: Reuters India

24 June 2009 | EN

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Model guides flow of climate change migrants

Policymakers facing tough decisions about moving people because of climate change may be helped by a mathematical model.

10 June 2009 | EN | ES | 中文

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Global warming may make monsoons harder to predict

Predicting monsoons will be harder because of global warming — and scientists say they will need better weather models.

13 May 2009 | EN

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Straw house design passes earthquake tests

A straw bale house designed to withstand earthquakes has passed rigorous shaking tests, say engineers.

7 May 2009 | EN | 中文

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Study reveals tsunami hazard to Guadeloupe

An earthquake on Dominica could trigger massive rock slides, sending a tsunami racing towards Guadeloupe, says a new study.

4 May 2009 | EN | ES

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Mangroves 'protect coastal villages during cyclones'

Mangroves cut coastal deaths during cyclones — but their effectiveness during tsunamis is inconclusive, says a new study.

21 April 2009 | EN

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West Africa caught in 'megadrought' cycle

Extreme droughts have been common in West Africa over the last 3,000 years, scientists have found.

Source: BBC Online

17 April 2009 | EN

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New method to track cyclone paths unveiled

NASA has developed an improved cyclone prediction method that could plug data gaps and increase warning times in vulnerable regions.

17 April 2009 | EN | 中文

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Indian Ocean due huge quake 'in next 30 years'

A study of coral growth patterns has led researchers to predict a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean in the next 30 years.

15 January 2009 | EN | 中文

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Mangroves 'do not protect against tsunamis'

Coastal forests such as mangroves cannot protect against a tsunami on their own, and other factors should be considered, say researchers.

14 January 2009 | EN

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Indonesia eyes regional role with tsunami warning system

Indonesia's plans to become the regional tsunami warning centre have taken a step forward with the launch of its own warning system.

3 December 2008 | EN

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Indian Ocean tsunami 'was not the first'

The tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean region in 2004 was not the first of its size, indicates research from two groups.

4 November 2008 | EN

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Researchers pinpoint climate change 'hotspots'

Researchers have mapped climate change hotspots around the globe, focusing on specific hazards including floods, cyclones and droughts.

4 September 2008 | EN | 中文

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Global warming 'induces fewer, but meaner, cyclones'

Adverse wind conditions due to global warming will reduce the frequency of tropical cyclones, but may form stronger ones, researchers warn.

20 August 2008 | EN | 中文