Understanding the Shifting Dynamics of Geohazards and Georisks Associated With Climate Change

Geohazards are adverse geological conditions that threaten the existence of people, properties, infrastructures and stable environments. This form of hazards is initiated by Earth’s physical processes which are often natural but could be induced by human activities. Georisks are measures of the likelihood of the occurrence of geohazards and their impact on exposed human life, property and infrastructure. Studies on geohazards and georisks are wide-ranging and mainly assess the physical processes, their effects, and the characteristics of the hazardous events. Assessments of geohazards focus primarily on the mechanisms and causes, the severity and frequency of episodes, the geographical distribution, and the development and implementation of modelling and instrumentation tools to monitor and predict geohazard events. Research involving georisks extend this further by examining the effects of hazards on communities, focusing chiefly on exposure, vulnerability, resilience, impacts (financial, environmental, social, etc.), insurance modelling, policy initiatives, and disaster and risk management.

Recent trends of geohazards and georisks indicate an amplification of both phenomena. Although some of these are driven by tectonic related processes, such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, there are observations that suggest a link between climate change and the rise in magnitude, frequency and spatial distribution of geohazards and georisks. Climate change, in this regard, is characterized, for instance, by modified patterns of precipitation, increasing temperatures and the thawing of permafrost and ice. Alterations in climatic variables act as the key drivers that instigate and intensify the mechanisms that enhance the rates of geohazards like slope instabilities, landslides, coastal erosion, coastal flooding and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). This Research Topic serves as a medium through which further insights are provided regarding the relationships between alterations in climatic conditions and geohazard activities. A boost in geohazards generally raises the scale of georisks, which often has aggravated implications on many fronts.

Original research and review articles are invited which fundamentally investigate the ramifications of climate change in terms of their impact on geohazards and georisks. However, the scope should, ideally, fall within the framework that focuses predominantly on the analysis of causative physical mechanisms, their effects, the characteristics of the hazardous episodes, and their consequences on society and the ecosystem.

This may include but not limited to any of the following thematic areas:

• landslides
• flooding (urban and coastal)
• earthquakes
• tsunamis
• gas emissions
• ground subsidence
• sinkholes
• karst collapse
• soil liquefaction
• coastal hazards
• social impacts
• environmental impacts
• economic losses
• insurance
• governmental policies and interventions
• permafrost and ice thaw
• measurement and instrumentation
• monitoring and prediction techniques.