Several remote sensing techniques, i.e., aerial photographs, drone images, and airborne lidar, were used in this study to decipher the morphological features of obscure landslides in volcanic regions and how the observed features may be used for understanding landslide occurrence, subsequent geomorphological evolution, and potential hazards. Two large-scale landslides were characterized and quantified in this study.

This paper extends and updates the survey of extreme wave events in Ireland that was previously carried out by O'Brien et al. (2013). Events are categorised into storm waves, rogue waves, tsunamis and storm surges. Important questions regarding public safety, services and the influence of climate change are also highlighted. An interactive map that allows the reader to navigate through events can be found here.

We study how short duration powder avalanche blasts break and overturn tall trees. Tree blow-down is often used to back-calculate avalanche pressure and therefore constrain avalanche flow velocity and motion. We find that tall trees are susceptible to avalanche air blasts because the duration of the air blast is near to the period of vibration of tall trees. Dynamic magnification factors should therefore be considered when back-calculating powder avalanche impact pressures.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the debris flow occurrence thresholds of the rainfall intensity–duration in the earthquake-affected areas of Sichuan province over the rainy seasons from 2012 to 2014. it is clear that radar-based rainfall estimate and threshold supplement the monitoring gap of EWS where rain gauge is scarce. A better understanding of relationship between rainfall and debris flow initiation can be enhanced by the radar with highly spatiotemporal resolution.

The Volcán de Colima (Mexico) is commonly hit by hurricanes that form over the Pacific Ocean, triggering multiple lahars along main ravines on the volcano. Rainfall-runoff simulations were compared with the arrival time of main lahar fronts, showing that flow pulses can be correlated with rainfall peak intensity and watershed discharge, depending on the watershed area and shape. This outcome can be used to implement an early warning system based on the monitoring of a hydro-meteorological event.

This study analyses the influence of sea surface temperature (SST) on the track and intensity of tropical cyclone (TC) Yasi and the associated precipitation and storm surge. A set of regional climate model simulations with SST anomalies varying from +4 to −4 °C are analysed and used to force a storm surge model. Increases in SST lead to an increase in the potential destructiveness of the TC (intensity, rainfall and storm surge), although this relationship is not linear.

We improve the warning system (WS) used to forecast landslides in Emilia Romagna (Italy) by using averaged soil moisture estimates. We tested two approaches. The first (based on a soil moisture threshold under which the original WS is not used) is very simple, reduces false alarms and can be easily applied elsewhere. The second (integrating rainfall and soil moisture thresholds in the WS) is more complicated but reduces both false alarms and missed alarms.

This study focuses on bibliometrics, geographies and global trends of research on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). It shows how research on GLOFs has become topical over the past few decades (analysed period: 1979–2016). Issues such as (i) where GLOFs are studied, (ii) who studies GLOFs, (iii) the export of research on GLOFs and (iv) international collaboration are addressed.

To better settle the location and quantify the activity of the Hengchun Fault, we integrate UAS for geomorphologic data acquisitions, photograph and morphotectonic interpretation. Then PS-InSAR results, validated with GPS and leveling data, allow characterizing and quantifying the surface displacements. We confirm the geometry, characterization and quantification of the active sinistral transpressive Hengchun fault. The potential hazards are worthy of further investigation.

Extreme wildfires events (EWE) have been recorded during the past year in the Mediterranean. By analyzing the climatic conditions associated with the French 2003 and 2016 fires seasons, we found that EWE were associated to two distinct climatic events whose frequencies are both expected to increase with global changes: hot droughts and long droughts. These results suggest that EWE are likely to become more common in the future and will certainly challenge fire management.

The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a methodology to estimate surface water flood damages from heavy precipitation in the Mediterranean region of study. The relationship between precipitation and insurance data has been assessed, using logistic regression models, to assess the probability of large monetary damages in relation to heavy precipitation events. Results show that our model is able to simulate the probability of a damaging event as a function of precipitation.

Snow avalanche motion is strongly dependent on the temperature and water content of the snow cover. In this paper we use a snow cover model, driven by measured meteorological data, to set the initial and boundary conditions for wet-snow avalanche calculations. The snow cover model provides estimates of snow depth, density, temperature and liquid water content. These initial conditions are used to drive an avalanche dynamics model. The runout results are compared using a contigency analysis.

Crop yields are routinely derived from meteorological variables, especially temperature. However, the primary water source for plant growth (soil moisture) is neglected. In this study, the predictability of maize yield is investigated using soil moisture or meteorological variables in Germany. The effects of soil moisture dominate those of temperature and are time-dependent. For example, comparatively moist soil conditions in June reduce crop yields, while in August they increase yields.

The paper discusses the seismological aspects of the 6–24 February 2017 Ayvacık (Çanakkale) earthquake swarm, describes the classifications of buildings in the area and elaborates on the performance of various building types during the earthquakes, and evaluates the damage distributions according to villages, damage ratios, structures and damage levels.

Here we show that wildland fires in an Italian alpine region are ignited mainly by human negligence. 30 % of fires stars in agricultural areas, 24 % in forests. Lightning plays a role in 10 % of the cases, but its importance has been increasing recently. Areas under hot, dry climate are more prone to fire. Cattle grazing reduces the fuel for winter fires, but increases ignition risk in summer. The maps of fire risk that we produce can help to support fire prevention and ecosystem management.

The use of historical data in a regional analysis can reduce the uncertainties in extreme quantile's estimation. Historical data are significant extreme events that are not recorded by tide gauge. They usually look like isolated data and they are different from continuous data from systematic measurements of tide gauges. Thanks to the use of the credible duration concept, the proposed FAB method allows the use of historical data together with systematic data in a regional framework.