ASA says new satellite measurements indicate unprecedented recent Greenland ice sheet surface melt. The images above show the extent of surface melt over Greenland’s ice sheet over just a four day period - from July 8 (left) and July 12 (right).

Robert Bowen

AP reported today that thousands of fish died just last week in the Midwestern United States because the heat wave made the rivers too hot. At the same time a leading scientist said statistical analysis confirms the blistering heat is a result of climate change.

Chart shows the cost benefits through mitigation measures on the example of a landslide. It shows that only a certain effort in mitigation measures gain cost benefits. If to less measures are taken, the frequency and the impact of the events are still too high and a better optimum can be found. If too many measures are taken, the cost of mitigation and management will outnumber the gained benefits!

The actual risk for a country to suffer in a long term from a natural disaster depends on the actual exposure but also on the vulnerability of a society (how can they cope and adapt to the event). Central America as well as big parts of Africa and Asia are at high risk to suffer in a long term from natural disasters.

The grafic shows the economic impacts for different countries. Even so that a lot of disasters hit the US the economic loss is insignificant. South Americas well as the Asian Regions, Africa and India are far more vulnerable for such events.

The frequency and the costs of natural disaster, which are linked to the climate change are constantly increasing (storms, extreme temperature, droughts, floods...) . The global loss reached 375 billion dollars in 2011, which equals about 0.5% of the global world product.

Over the 20 last years about 2/3 of the world population were exposed to natural disaster. Most of them are affected by floods and droughts. 1.3 million have been killed, whereas far most of them by earthquakes.

Most of the shown natural disaster happened on islands, near the sea and at tectonic borders.  Overall loss ranges from 8 - 125 billion USD. Damage partly insured. Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Hurricane have the biggest potential to destroy facilities.

The increase of rain precipitation anomalies due to globale warming

population at risk from the increase of dengue desease.