Peregrine falcons expose lasting harms of flame retardant use

GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

 

IMAGE: 

MAP OF PEREGRINE FALCON EGG SAMPLING SITES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

 

view more 

CREDIT: WU ET AL. (2024)

Peregrine falcon populations across North America are heavily contaminated with harmful flame retardants–including those that have been phased out for years–according to a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology. Flame retardants are chemicals added to furniture, electronics, and other everyday products to meet flammability standards, though they often do not work as intended. They also migrate out of products they are added to and end up in wildlife and people and many are linked to serious health and environmental harms. 

“Our results expose the long-term consequences of adding flame retardants to consumer products,” said leading author Da Chen, a scientist at Jinan University. “As globally distributed apex predators, the peregrine falcon is the ideal canary in the coal mine for monitoring flame retardant pollution in the environment. Flame retardants phased out a decade ago are still accumulating in these birds and into their eggs, which indicates that the threats of these chemicals to wildlife and people can far outlast their production.” 

Researchers measured concentrations of a suite of old and newer halogenated flame retardants in peregrine falcon eggs collected from multiple locations in the U.S. (New Jersey, California, Chesapeake Bay, and Pennsylvania) and Canada (Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and New Brunswick) between 1984 and 2016. It is the largest investigation to date of flame retardants in peregrine falcons in terms of both time and space. 

In these falcons, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were the most commonly detected flame retardants and had the highest concentrations. Despite the fact that production of the major PentaBDE and DecaBDE mixtures ceased in North America by the end of 2004 and 2013, respectively, PBDE concentrations did not decline over the study period in most regions. Similarly, although hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) has been phased out from the North American market since 2012, it was detected in the majority of eggs and concentrations did not decrease over the study period in any of the regions.

Continued exposure to old flame retardants comes from the release of these chemicals from in-use and discarded products produced before the phase-outs. Further, many flame retardants released from products accumulate up marine and terrestrial food chains over time, making apex predators like peregrine falcons more likely to build up high concentrations in their tissues. The flame retardants also end up in their eggs through maternal transfer.

Concentrations of the unregulated halogenated flame retardants measured by the research team stayed constant or declined throughout the study period, suggesting that non-halogenated flame retardants and polymeric flame retardants are more popular as replacements. Unfortunately, those too are increasingly linked to human and wildlife health harms. 

Peregrine falcons are far from the only species polluted by flame retardants. Last year the Green Science Policy Institute released a map of more than 150 species of wild animals across every continent contaminated with old and new flame retardant chemicals. Polluted wildlife included killer whales, red pandas, chimpanzees and other endangered species. 

 

---

JOURNAL

Environmental Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acs.est.3c10907 

ARTICLE TITLE

Exposure of Peregrine Falcons to Halogenated Flame Retardants: A 30 Year Retrospective Biomonitoring Study across North America

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

9-Apr-2024

 

Military veterans say extremism was preceded by negative service experiences

Veterans also often faced difficulties transitioning to civilian life

RAND CORPORATION

Interviews with military veterans who expressed support for extremist groups or related beliefs on a prior survey show that many experienced a significant negative event during their military service, according to a new RAND report.

 

Researchers found that these veterans also often faced difficulties transitioning to civilian life and sometimes shared their beliefs with a wider social network.

 

RAND researchers conducted 21 interviews with veterans who had indicated support for one or more extremist groups or related beliefs to understand possible drivers and patterns of extremism among veterans. That support was expressed as a part of a nationally representative survey of nearly 1,000 veterans in the U.S.

 

Roughly three-quarters of those interviewed reported a negative or traumatic life event while in the military, ranging from interpersonal conflict (often leading to discharge) to combat trauma, as well as physical and sexual abuse.

 

“The main take-home lesson of our study is the tremendous heterogeneity underlying what may seem like cut and dried answers when they are compiled as a part of a national survey,” said Ryan Andrew Brown, the study’s lead author and a senior social scientist at RAND, a nonprofit research organization.

 

“It’s important that there be future research that looks to tease out the relative importance of negative experiences in the military, transition stress and other potential risk factors that may help send veterans on the path to radicalization,” Brown said.

 

Concern that the veteran community is at increased risk of radicalization to violent extremism increased since reports that a significant proportion of the people who attacked the U.S. Capital on Jan. 6, 2021, were currently or had been affiliated with the U.S. military.

 

Furthermore, research by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism suggests that veterans increasingly are among those known to have committed political, economic, social or religiously motivated criminal acts.

 

RAND researchers in late 2022 conducted the first nationally representative survey of veterans’ views about extremism and extremist groups. The survey found that veterans expressed support for extremist groups and extremist ideals at rates  similar to or somewhat lower than the U.S. public in general.   

 

To better understand those motivations, researchers invited a group of survey participants who espoused support for extremist ideologies to take part in structured video interviews. The study is the first to use systematic qualitative methods to examine the potential pathways to extremism among veterans.

 

Participants offered a wide mix of responses when asked whether they supported extremist groups or causes that they had affirmed during the original survey.

 

Virtually all participants who had supported the Proud Boys now denied such support, while nearly all the participants who affirmed support during the survey for the Great Replacement theory believed that the Democratic Party was attempting to purchase votes through lax immigration policies.

 

Many participants affirmed support for political violence, though the responses suggested none were intent on acting on such support in the near future.

 

“While the number of participants who were willing to use the language of violence to discuss political change may be a harbinger of future strife, none seemed poised to act on violence in the near term,” said Todd C. Helmus, a study coauthor and a RAND senior behavioral scientist. “All of this provides a caution to any straightforward interpretation of survey data on extremist beliefs and support for extremist groups, whether with veterans or other groups. Survey responses alone may not be a predictor of future actions.”

 

Twelve respondents described difficulties with the transition from military to civilian life, including missing the pace and camaraderie of military life, having no resources, and not knowing where to turn, struggling with PTSD or depression, and even experiencing homelessness and becoming imprisoned. 

 

In addition, 12 of those interviewed provided narratives of life experiences that helped push them toward more-extreme political viewpoints, including specific events in U.S. or international politics and history, experiences during deployment or work settings, and life disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Support for the study was provided by Daniel J. Epstein through the Epstein Family Foundation, which established the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute in 2021, and the Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library.

 

The report, “Veteran Narratives of Support for Extremist Groups and Beliefs: Results from Interviews with Members of a Nationally Representative Survey of the U.S. Veteran Community,” is available at www.rand.org. Rajeev Ramchand also co-authored the report.

 

The RAND Social and Economic Well-Being division seeks to actively improve the health, and social and economic well-being of populations and communities throughout the world.

---

DOI

10.7249/RRA1071-4 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Veteran Narratives of Support for Extremist Groups and Beliefs: Results from Interviews with Members of a Nationally Representative Survey of the U.S. Veteran Community

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

9-Apr-2024

 

Mapping the world's salted soils: a leap forward in combatting land degradation

JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING

 

IMAGE: 

NOTES: THE SUBFIGURE SHOWS AN EXAMPLE OF ACIDIC SOIL AREAS DEFINED BY THE WORLD REFERENCE BASE FOR SOIL RESOURCES; THE SCATTERPLOT SHOWS THE SALT CONTENT OF SOIL SAMPLES IN FIVE CLIMATE REGIONS.

view more 

CREDIT: JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING

A team of researchers has developed an innovative approach that maps the soil salt contentaround the world with an exceptional detail of 10 meters. This breakthrough tackles the pressing need for accurate assessments of soil salinity, a formidable challenge that jeopardizes agricultural productivity and soil vitality on a global scale.

Soil salinity, a form of land degradation, affects over 1 billion hectares globally, compromising agricultural productivity and environmental health. Previous attempts at mapping soil salinity were hindered by the coarse spatial resolution of existing datasets and limitations in capturing the continuity of soil salinity content. Recognizing these challenges, the research team embarked on developing a model that integrates Sentinel-1/2 images, climate data, terrain information, and advanced machine learning algorithms to estimate soil salt content across five climate regions. These findings were detailed in a study (DOI: 10.34133/remotesensing.0130) published on March 28, 2024, in Journal of Remote Sensing. This research introduces a device that skillfully integrates slanted spiral channels with periodic contraction-expansion arrays.

At the heart of this groundbreaking endeavor is the fusion of data from an array of remote sensing technologies, notably the advanced Sentinel-1/2 satellites, and the strategic application of machine learning algorithms. This innovative approach has birthed a sophisticated model capable of delineating soil salinity with unprecedented precision—a 10-meter resolution across varying climates. This methodological breakthrough propels us far beyond the limitations of past attempts, which were shackled by their coarser resolution and a narrower scope in salinity analysis. The dedicated research team has assembled an extensive dataset, capturing global climate patterns, precise ground-level soil salinity readings, and a comprehensive set of geospatial variables. Employing the Random Forest algorithm, the model not only excels in predicting soil salinity with remarkable accuracy but also sheds light on the pivotal roles that climate, groundwater levels, and salinity indices play in the formation of soil salinity landscapes. This innovation marks a monumental stride in our ability to monitor and manage soil health on a global scale.

Professor Zhou Shi, the lead researcher, stated, "This study marks a significant leap in our ability to assess and manage soil salinity at a global scale. By combining satellite imagery with machine learning, we can now identify saline soils with unprecedented accuracy and detail, offering valuable insights for sustainable land and agricultural practices."

The high-resolution global soil salinity map generated from this research provides an essential tool for scientists, policymakers, and farmers to address soil salinity issues effectively. It enables targeted interventions for soil health restoration, supports sustainable agricultural practices, and aids in resource management planning. The methodology also sets a new standard for environmental monitoring, potentially applicable to other land degradation assessments.

###

References

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0130

Original Source URL

https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/remotesensing.0130

Funding information

This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program (grant numbers 2018YFE0107000 and 2023YFD1900102), the National Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 42261016 and 41061031), the Bingtuan Science and Technology Program (grant number 2020CB032), the Tarim University President’s Fund (grant number TDZKCX202205), the China Scholarship Council (CSC), the Academic Rising Star Program for Doctoral Students of Zhejiang University, and the Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Funding of Zhejiang University.

About Journal of Remote Sensing

The Journal of Remote Sensing, an online-only Open Access journal published in association with AIR-CAS, promotes the theory, science, and technology of remote sensing, as well as interdisciplinary research within earth and information science.

---

JOURNAL

Journal of Remote Sensing

DOI

10.34133/remotesensing.0130 

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Global Soil Salinity Estimation at 10 m Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing

 

Unlocking alkalinity stress tolerance in citrus: insights from Ziyang xiangcheng rootstock

MAXIMUM ACADEMIC PRESS

 

IMAGE: 

THE PLANTING MODE AND DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE OF (A) TREES AND (B) FRUITS OF CJ + LL AND PT + LL, AND (C) THE FRUIT QUALITY DATA OF PEEL COLOR PARAMETERS, SINGLE FRUIT WEIGHT, TOTAL SOLUBLE SOLID AND TITRATABLE ACID OF CJ + LL AND PT + LL AT FIVE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT STAGES.

view more 

CREDIT: FRUIT RESEARCH

Alkalinity stress significantly hinders plant growth, particularly affecting citrus, a vital crop worldwide. Ziyang xiangcheng (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) (Cj), an alkalinity-tolerant citrus rootstock, prompts interest in understanding its resilience mechanisms. Research reveals that lateral root (LR) formation and hormonal interactions, especially involving jasmonate (JA), are key to stress adaptation. However, the specific roles of JA in root development and stress response, along with the function of plasma membrane H+-ATPase in root adaptation to alkalinity, are less understood. Despite progress in identifying stress response pathways, a comprehensive understanding of how these mechanisms enable citrus rootstocks like Cj to withstand alkalinity stress, influencing grafting outcomes and scion characteristics, remains a significant research gap.

Fruit Research published online a paper entitled “Comprehensive analysis provides insights into Ziyang xiangcheng (Citrus junos Sieb.) tolerance of alkalinity stress” on 02 January 2024.

In this study, two citrus rootstocks, Ziyang xiangcheng (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) (Cj) and Poncirus trifoliata (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) (Pt), and one navel orange scion, 'Lane Late' navel orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.) (LL) were used. These grafted materials Cj + LL and Pt + LL (rootstock + scion) were alternately planted in an orchard with calcareous soil, characterized by high calcium level (7,075.27 mg/kg) and pH value (7.88) but lower mineral elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mg and Mn) compared to a control orchard. Observations revealed that Cj + LL exhibited superior growth, yield, and fruit quality than Pt + LL, demonstrating significantly larger tree height, canopy volume, fruit size and heavier single fruit weight. Additionally, the study delved into the mineral element content in different tissues and found that Cj + LL generally had higher levels of mineral elements and microelements, particularly Cu and Fe, in contrast to Pt + LL.

To understand the molecular regulatory mechanism behind these phenotypic differences, RNA-seq was utilized to generate transcriptome profiles for the root, stem, and leaf tissues of Cj + LL and Pt + LL. 3,431 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between Cj + LL_root and Pt + LL_root, indicating a major differential resource between Cj + LL and Pt + LL. Enrichment analyses identified key biological processes and pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and glutathione metabolism, underscoring the complex interplay of genes involved in stress response, nutrient uptake, and development. Many DEGs related to lignin biosynthesis were also identified, several key genes for lignin biosynthesis were all downregulated in Cj + LL_root, and the content of lignin in Cj + LL was significantly lower than that in Pt + LL in both the root and leaf tissues. Therefore, lignin biosynthesis may play an important role in the response to alkalinity stress.

Particularly, the study highlighted the crucial role of jasmonate (JA) in alkalinity stress tolerance, with key genes in the JA signal transduction pathways upregulated in Cj + LL. The JA content was notably higher in Cj + LL, correlating with increased tolerance to alkalinity stress, as evidenced by exogenous JA treatment experiments that enhanced the stress resilience of Cj seedlings. Additionally, the analysis of plant hormones revealed differences in ABA and IAA contents between the rootstocks, further implicating plant hormone dynamics in the observed stress responses.

The study concludes that JA, along with its associated metabolic and signal transduction pathways, plays a pivotal role in mediating tolerance to alkalinity stress in citrus, influencing lateral root formation, lignin biosynthesis, and reactive oxygen species scavenging. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying rootstock tolerance to environmental stresses, offering potential strategies for improving citrus cultivation in challenging soil conditions.

###

References

DOI

10.48130/frures-0023-0037

Original Source URL

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/frures-0023-0037

Authors

Chenyu Xu1#, Junying Cao1#, Mei Su1, Xianshuo Yan1, Hualin Yi1, Haijian Yang2*, & Juxun Wu1*

# These authors contributed equally: Chenyu Xu, Junying Cao

Affiliations

1.National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China

2.Fruit Tree Research Institute of Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chongqing 401329, PR China

About Juxun Wu

Associate Professor, Huazhong Agricultural University. His main research interests include citrus genetic breeding, citrus fruit development and ripening regulation.

---

JOURNAL

Fruit Research

DOI

10.48130/frures-0023-0037 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Comprehensive analysis provides insights into Ziyang xiangcheng (Citrus junos Sieb.) tolerance of alkalinity stress

The role of PagMYB73A in salinity tolerance in poplars

MAXIMUM ACADEMIC PRESS

 

IMAGE: 

FUNCTION MODEL OF PAGMYB73A ENHANCING SALT TOLERANCE OF 84K POPLAR.

view more 

CREDIT: FORESTRY RESEARCH

Poplar trees, characterized by their rapid growth and broad adaptability, are a fast-growing timber species. However, in the northern regions of China, their growth has been consistently impeded by salt stress. MYB family transcription factors (TFs) play a critical role in stress response and development. Nevertheless, the function of specific MYB genes remains unclear, especially regarding their role in salt tolerance. Previous studies have identified that PagMYB73 (a homolog gene of PagMYB73A in poplar) can be induced by salt stress, with its homologous gene MYB73 in Arabidopsis participating in lateral root growth and stress resistance by regulating auxin biosynthesis. However, the mechanism by which PagMYB73A contributes to salt tolerance in poplar remains unclear.

Forestry Research published online a paper entitled “PagMYB73A enhances poplar salt tolerance by facilitating adventitious roots elongation and stomata density” on 24 January 2024.

Initially, this study identified ten homologous proteins of PagMYB73A through a blastp search on the NCBI website, among which the XP_002301201.1 protein from Populus trichocarpa demonstrated significant homology. These homologous proteins are characterized by the conserved R2R3-MYB domain. Interestingly, subcellular localization of PagMYB73A revealed that, unlike typical transcription factors, PagMYB73A is not only localized in the nucleus but also distributed throughout the cell. Further experiments demonstrated that overexpressing PagMYB73A in poplars under salt stress conditions led to a significant increase in adventitious root length and root dry weight, with a concomitant decrease in plant height. This was supported by the finding that PagMYB73A overexpression resulted in enhanced expression of genes associated with adventitious root development under salt stress.

Additionally, PagMYB73A overexpression improved overall root growth metrics but reduced fine root development under these conditions, indicating a nuanced influence on root architecture.Moreover, PagMYB73A was shown to maintain stomatal density under salt stress, which is crucial for plant stress adaptation, and to reduce cellular membrane damage, as indicated by lower MDA content in overexpressing lines compared to wild type.  Under both normal and salt stress conditions, no significant differences were observed in the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT between OE (overexpressing) and WT (wild-type) plants. These findings further corroborate that PagMYB73A enhances salt tolerance in poplar through the regulation of the MDA pathway.

In concluosion, these findings underscore PagMYB73A's multifaceted role in enhancing poplar salt tolerance through various mechanisms, including promoting adventitious root growth, regulating root architecture, maintaining stomatal density, and protecting cellular membranes from oxidative damage. This research not only highlights the intricate response strategies plants employ to cope with abiotic stress but also provides valuable insights for breeding more resilient poplar varieties.

###

References

DOI

10.48130/forres-0023-0032

Original Source URL

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/forres-0023-0032

Authors

Xia Jin1, Kai Zhao1, Jia Hu1, Oliver Gailing2, , Lieding Zhou1, Shuhui Du1, Youzhi Han1,* ,  & Shengji Wang1, *

Affiliations

1.College of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China

2.Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Germany

About Shengji Wang

Shengji Wang currently works at the State Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University. He does research in Agricultural Plant Science.

---

JOURNAL

Forestry Research

DOI

10.48130/forres-0023-0032 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Experimental study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

PagMYB73A enhances poplar salt tolerance by facilitating adventitious roots elongation and stomata density

  

Research examines tweets during Hurricane María to analyze social media use during disasters

Understanding how social media is used during a disaster can help with disaster preparedness and recovery for future events, says urban and regional planning professor Omar Pérez Figueroa

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, NEWS BUREAU

 

IMAGE: 

UNDERSTANDING HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS USED DURING A DISASTER CAN HELP WITH DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY FOR FUTURE EVENTS, SAYS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING PROFESSOR OMAR PÉREZ FIGUEROA.

view more 

CREDIT: PHOTO BY FRED ZWICKY

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Social media can be a useful tool for communicating during extreme weather events. Omar Pérez Figueroa, an urban and regional planning professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, examined how Twitter (now X) was used when Hurricane María hit Puerto Rico in 2017.

His findings are published in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences.

Pérez Figueroa studies how impoverished and marginalized communities address environmental inequalities, water governance and disaster resilience.

For his research on social media and risk communication, he collected data from Twitter before the platform changed its name, so he continued to refer to it as Twitter for his study. He analyzed a sample of more than 2,000 tweets from before Hurricane María made landfall to six months after the storm to determine “what the event tells us about the reactions and behavior of people, and what is useful to understand to be better prepared.”

Pérez Figueroa analyzed the timing of the tweets and their geographic distribution. Most of them were made prior to landfall, with smaller peaks of activity at later times – for example, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency deleted Puerto Rican disaster statistics from its website. In the U.S., those tweeting about the hurricane were highly concentrated in Florida, California, New York and Texas, all areas with large Puerto Rican populations.

The sample included tweets from Puerto Rico, despite the collapse of the island’s power grid. Pérez Figueroa said Twitter doesn’t require a strong signal, making sending messages under disaster conditions more accessible.

He identified three main categories of messages: information about what was happening on the ground in Puerto Rico; understanding the social and political conditions that turned the hurricane into a disaster; and emotional messages seeking help or expressing support. Those in Puerto Rico used social media to inform others about their condition and location, ask for and receive help, and document the disaster.

Pérez Figueroa wrote that many tweets about the sociopolitical causes of the disaster blamed local and federal governments for their slow and inefficient response. He said it underscored the use of social media in solidarity and grassroots recovery efforts; as a tool to pressure for prompt government response and the development of policies that address vulnerabilities; and to communicate needs and raise awareness among people not directly affected by the local event about where to donate.

The tweets included information about the Guajataca Dam failure as it occurred. 

“Being able to access critical data during and after a disaster can provide the difference between life and death, especially for those on the ground. Recognizing the increasing use of social media for disaster response and aid can increase communities’ disaster resilience, especially when the communities hardest hit have limited communication and are remote, like the case of Puerto Rico,” Pérez Figueroa wrote.

In addition to aiding in preparedness and recovery for future disasters, the research served as a case study to test and refine a framework for examining disaster social media communication, Pérez Figueroa said.

“Understanding how individuals use Twitter during disasters and in the immediate aftermath will be important as hurricanes occur more frequently, and as the public continues to turn to social media as a mainstream news source. Public health and disaster response organizations will benefit from a more detailed understanding as to who and how communication on social media can play a role in mitigating the public health burdens that result from disaster events,” he wrote.

Pérez Figueroa said areas for future research include how traditional media can influence discussions on social media, how narratives on the two differ, whether social media influences emergency responders and policymakers to improve disaster response, and how groups from different socioeconomic levels use social media during disasters.

 

 

Editor’s notes: To contact Omar Pérez Figueroa, email operez10@illinois.edu.

The paper “A content analysis of social media discourse during Hurricane María: filling a void when traditional media are silent” is available online.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-024-00909-1

 

---

JOURNAL

Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s13412-024-00909-1 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Content analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

A content analysis of social media discourse during Hurricane María: filling a void when traditional media are silent

Floridians’ and Texans’ perceptions of hurricane risk

PNAS NEXUS

 

IMAGE: 

TROPICAL CYCLONE STORM TRACKS AND FORCE WINDS FOR HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA, AND MICHAEL. THE SOLID LINES REPRESENT THE STORM TRACKS FOR EACH TROPICAL CYCLONE. STUDY PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN FLORIDA, EXPERIENCED REPEATED EXPOSURE TO MAJOR TROPICAL CYCLONES DURING THE STUDY PERIOD. STUDY PARTICIPANTS SHOWN IN THIS FIGURE ARE THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO WAVE 1. 

view more 

CREDIT: NINA BERLIN RUBIN

Rapid climate change is prompting adaptation to threats such as tropical cyclones, wildfires, and droughts—but relatively trivial adaptation actions may lull people into inaccurate perceptions of their personal risk. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine; Stanford University; and the University of California, Los Angeles surveyed 2,774 Texas and Florida residents about tropical cyclones—also known in North America as hurricanes—five times between 2017 and 2022. The survey window included three major landfalling tropical cyclones: Hurricanes Harvey (2017), Irma (2017), and Michael (2018). Participants were recruited through the probability-based online panel KnowledgePanel and asked about their perceived risk from tropical cyclones, as well as adaptation activities, including assembling an emergency supply kit, installing hurricane shutters, developing and practicing an emergency plan, and purchasing flood insurance. Gabrielle Wong-Parodi and colleagues found that perception of personal risk, including the likelihood of injury and home damage, declined as time passed after hurricanes. On average, personal tropical cyclone risk perceptions were positively associated with adaptation actions. However, adapters also showed declining risk perception over time. Yet, the authors note that climate change is making tropical cyclones more intense over time— and adaptation activities cannot reduce overall risk of event occurrence. According to the authors, these activities may counterintuitively lower personal risk perceptions and subsequent adaptation behaviors, paradoxically leaving people less prepared for future climate threats. The authors contend that policies and programs supporting sustainment of long-term proactive adaptations are warranted, especially among those who may have fewer resources.

---

JOURNAL

PNAS Nexus

ARTICLE TITLE

A longitudinal investigation of risk perceptions and adaptation behavior in the US Gulf Coast

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

9-Apr-2024