EGU Natural Hazards Division

EGU Natural Hazards Division The Division is structured in nine Subdivisions covering specific hazards.

The Natural Hazards (NH) Division of the EGU covers all the geological and geophysical processes that can be hazardous and can produce damage to the environment and to the society. Therefore it is a place where scientists and researchers of various geo-disciplines meet with sociologists, economists and people responsible for territorial and urban defense and planning policies. The aim is to improv

e the understanding of the evolution of the processes and to discuss new technologies, methods and strategies to mitigate their disastrous effects. Of these seven are listed here: hydro-meteorological, volcanic, landslide, earthquake-, sea and ocean, snow-avalanche- and glacial, wildfire hazards. The eighth Subdivision covers biological and environmental hazards and in addition hazards not included in the previous ones. The ninth (natural hazards and society) focuses on the social aspects of the hazards, including development sustainability, emergency, warning, after-disaster resilience, etc. Most of the topics that are treated in the NH Division are also treated in other EGU Divisions, which is expected due to the intrinsic transversal nature of the NH Division. For example, earthquakes are the main interest of the Seismology Division, but they are also of interest here where the chief topics are, among others, how to evaluate vulnerability and risk, how to reduce the earthquake disastrous impact on human lives and society, how geo-scientists can contribute to a prompt recovery of a community affected by earthquake sequences…And analogous considerations can be made for the other types of the natural hazards. The NH Division is one the historical Divisions of the EGU that was established since when EGU was founded and has been and is one of the largest divisions to which many geo-scientists provide steadily contributions of papers and ideas over the years.

03/05/2026

As you are approaching Vienna for the General Assembly, here are some key Natural Hazards Division events you should not miss throughout the week.

The programme combines networking opportunities, scientific highlights, and dedicated Early Career Scientist activities.

We have the medal lectures

🔥 A new Campfire event!What connects volcanic processes to real world hazard management? 🌋 Join us on 9 April at 17:00 C...
01/04/2026

🔥 A new Campfire event!
What connects volcanic processes to real world hazard management? 🌋
Join us on 9 April at 17:00 CEST to explore how science translates into decision making, in an interactive space to exchange ideas and spark new collaborations.

👉 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vNZ9hw5KRc6tq7tR9jwung

Throwback Thursday ⏪ In case you missed past posts from our blogToday we take you to Switzerland 🇨🇭 to revisit the Blatt...
22/01/2026

Throwback Thursday ⏪ In case you missed past posts from our blog

Today we take you to Switzerland 🇨🇭 to revisit the Blatten landslide that occurred in May 2025. In this article, Christophe Lambiel answers a series of questions to help unpack what happened, the processes involved and why this event matters from a natural hazards perspective.

Through this expert insight, the post offers a clear and accessible overview of the landslide event, placing it in its broader environmental and hazard context.

Check the article to learn more:

In the morning of May 28, 2025, the picturesque Swiss alpine village of Blatten sat quiet and serene in the Lötschen Valley. Exceptionally quiet, in fact, as the village was evacuated on May 19th after a local Natural Hazards expert spotted a worrisome change in a local mountain looming about the v...

📢 Monday blog day! A reminder to check out our latest post on the Natural Hazards Division blog!Our most recent article ...
19/01/2026

📢 Monday blog day!
A reminder to check out our latest post on the Natural Hazards Division blog!

Our most recent article takes readers to the Adriatic coast, where historical photographs, newspaper archives and eyewitness are used to reconstruct past meteotsunami events. This scientific detective work helps recover valuable information on rare coastal hazards that are often missing from conventional datasets 🌊🗞️

And a reminder that the NH blog is always open to contributions from the community. If you have a story to share, whether from your research, fieldwork or a unique perspective on natural hazards, do not hesitate to get in touch 📝

Read the full article and get inspired 👇

Before modern instruments, our only clues about past sea events came from written records and folklore. Along the eastern Adriatic coast, stories of sudden floods and “ tidal waves ” (locally called šćiga ) have been passed down for generations. These waves, described as rapid rises and falls ...

Throwback Thursday ⏪ In case you missed past posts from our blog 👀 Today's article takes us to Cape Cod, where a tsunami...
15/01/2026

Throwback Thursday ⏪ In case you missed past posts from our blog 👀

Today's article takes us to Cape Cod, where a tsunami early warning system test was carried out during Thanksgiving, providing a useful real world example to reflect on preparedness and communication.

Using this case, the article explains how early warning systems work, why regular testing is essential and how clear messaging helps distinguish preparedness from unnecessary alarm 🚨

Curious about what happened and what it means for hazard preparedness? Read the full story on the blog 👇
https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/nh/2025/05/26/be-prepared-dont-be-scared-early-warning-system-test-during-thanksgiving-on-cape-cod/

This week I think back on my time in the United States of America, where I was able to spend the holiday season. In North America, “fall” marks the beginning of this holiday season, and symbolises a time filled with traditions of togetherness that transcends regions. In New England, particularly...

⏰ Abstract deadline reminder for the next EGU General Assembly (3–8 May 2026)The deadline for abstract submissions is to...
14/01/2026

⏰ Abstract deadline reminder for the next EGU General Assembly (3–8 May 2026)

The deadline for abstract submissions is tomorrow, Thursday 15 January 2026 at 13:00 CET 📣

If you are working on natural hazards, this is your chance to be part of a rich and diverse programme. The Natural Hazards division offers sessions spanning hydro meteorological hazards, volcanic and earthquake hazards, landslides and snow avalanches, sea and ocean hazards, wildfires, climate hazards, multi hazards, and the growing role of remote sensing, AI and data science 🌍🔥🌊

You will also find inter and transdisciplinary sessions, short courses, and dedicated spaces connecting hazards research with society and decision making.

Check the full programme, find the session that best fits your work: https://www.egu26.eu/pg/NH

And remember to submit your abstract before the deadline 👇

Precise match in quotes: "term1 term2" "red apples" returns results matching exactly like: Anthocyanin biosynthesis in red apples

Our social media may have been quiet for a while, but the EGU Natural Hazards blog certainly was not 👀Last Monday, we dr...
12/01/2026

Our social media may have been quiet for a while, but the EGU Natural Hazards blog certainly was not 👀
Last Monday, we dropped a new blog post that takes you on a journey to the Adriatic coast of Croatia 🌊🇭🇷

The mission? Track down historical meteotsunamis.
The tools? Old photographs, newspaper archives and eyewitness reports 🗞️📸
The method? A good dose of scientific detective work 🕵️

Dive into the full story on the blog 👇
https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/nh/2026/01/05/hunting-for-historical-adriatic-meteotsunamis/

Before modern instruments, our only clues about past sea events came from written records and folklore. Along the eastern Adriatic coast, stories of sudden floods and “ tidal waves ” (locally called šćiga ) have been passed down for generations. These waves, described as rapid rises and falls ...

💥 The   General Assembly might be over, but the Natural Hazards Division activities continue all year round!Are you pass...
12/05/2025

💥 The General Assembly might be over, but the Natural Hazards Division activities continue all year round!

Are you passionate about natural hazards? Do you enjoy writing or would you like to sharpen your science communication skills? The EGU Natural Hazards Division Blog is looking for new contributors!

Why join us?
✅ Be part of a supportive, international team of early-career scientists
✅ Explore creative science communication beyond academic writing
✅ Reach over 21,000 readers worldwide
✅ Make your research accessible to a wider audience
✅ Have fun, build new connections, and grow your network

Contributing is flexible and voluntary. You can submit a one-time post or join as an editor and become part of our team.

Interested? Send us a post on a topic you’re passionate about, or reach out to learn more:
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

Are you passionate about natural hazards? Do you want to explore and enhance your science communication skills? The EGU Natural Hazards Division Blog seeks beautiful minds to become enthusiastic new editors and join our diverse and inclusive team. The blog serves as a platform for the natural hazard...

🥇 Celebrating brilliant research at   – Natural Hazards Division MedalsThis year at the EGU General Assembly, the NH Div...
06/05/2025

🥇 Celebrating brilliant research at – Natural Hazards Division Medals

This year at the EGU General Assembly, the NH Division had the great honour to highlight three outstanding scientists whose work is making a real difference in how we understand, prepare for, and respond to natural hazards.

🏅 Annegret Thieken – Plinius Medal

Annegret’s research has fundamentally shaped the way we manage flood risk. For more than 20 years, she has been leading interdisciplinary projects and post-disaster surveys across Germany, collecting vital data directly from flood-affected households. This work has contributed to improving damage models, early warning systems, and risk communication strategies—not only in Germany, but also across Europe. She has also been a strong advocate for more ethical and inclusive approaches to disaster research, emphasizing the importance of involving affected communities and multiple stakeholders. Her work is a clear reminder that effective flood risk management must be grounded in both science and social understanding.

🏅 Mariana Madruga de Brito – Arne Richter Award for Outstanding ECS

Mariana’s approach to climate impact research is bold and forward-looking. Using natural language processing and machine learning, she is tapping into digital sources—like newspapers and reports—to detect and understand the societal impacts of climate extremes in near real time. This method can fill crucial data gaps, especially in places or sectors where traditional monitoring is limited. Her work opens up exciting new possibilities for tracking cascading climate impacts and supporting faster, more responsive adaptation policies.

🏅 Sergio Martín Vicente Serrano – Sergey Soloviev Medal

Sergio’s work on drought assessment is a reference in the field. His development of drought indices like SPEI and his critical perspective on current assessment methods have helped scientists and decision-makers better understand the true severity of droughts, especially in a warming climate. He advocates for combining atmospheric, hydrological, and ecological data to improve how we measure and anticipate water stress—a challenge that is only growing more urgent.

We’re truly proud to have such inspiring researchers in our NH community—congratulations and thank you for your impactful work!

✨ Exactly one week ago,   kicked off - and just like every year, a *lot* happened. Sessions, debates, posters, coffee-fu...
05/05/2025

✨ Exactly one week ago, kicked off - and just like every year, a *lot* happened. Sessions, debates, posters, coffee-fueled conversations… but some of the most meaningful moments came during the NH Division’s networking events.

We started strong with the Natural Hazards Pop-up Get-Together, a spontaneous, informal way to bring together both senior and early-career members of our community. Events like this remind us how strong scientific communities are built: by breaking down barriers and making space to connect. 🫂

These moments matter - especially for early career scientists. It’s not always easy to speak up or find your people in such a big crowd. But creating space to simply talk, laugh, and be seen can make all the difference.

Later in the week came the ECS Networking Lunch, a simple idea: bring your lunch and sit together. But what actually happened? People from different countries, disciplines, and backgrounds found each other. Some were meeting for the first time, others finally matched names to faces. It was relaxed, warm, and full of energy. We shared sweets, played collaborative games, and stretched out in the sunshine. ☀️

To everyone who joined: thank you. You helped make our NH community feel open, welcoming, and alive.

We’ll be sharing more highlights soon - so stay tuned!

🌍 EGU General Assembly 2025 is not just about presenting your research — it’s about connecting, learning, and growing as...
27/04/2025

🌍 EGU General Assembly 2025 is not just about presenting your research — it’s about connecting, learning, and growing as a community!

The Natural Hazards (NH) Division is excited to offer a series of networking events throughout the week.

Whether you’re an early career scientist, an experienced researcher, these are great opportunities to meet colleagues, spark collaborations, and share experiences.

Make sure to join us! 🫶

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