Water in the World: Hydrological Hazards

In Australia, flooding is the second most deadly natural disaster after heatwaves. So, what causes floods and how will you know if there's one on the way? Read through this website to learn more.

Floods can have both positive and negative impacts. They can bring welcome relief for people and ecosystems suffering from prolonged drought, but also are estimated to be the most costly natural disaster in Australia. Read through this article to learn more.

Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas. Read through this website to learn more.

Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are all tropical storms. When they hit, they can be extremely destructive and even deadly, depending on which category they fall under. Read through this website to learn more about these disasters.

Hurricanes and typhoons are the same weather phenomenon: tropical cyclones. A tropical cyclone is a generic term used by meteorologists to describe a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation. Read through this website to learn more.

Read this fact sheet to learn more about these hydrological hazards.

Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. Read through this website to learn more.

Queensland and NSW have faced catastrophic weather conditions in early 2022 that have claimed 16 lives. Read through this article to learn more about the human cost of floods.

Brisbane and nearby communities experienced some of the worst flooding on record, with some residents wondering if its worth rebuilding as climate change worsens weather conditions. Read through this article to learn more about flood events in Australia.