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Environment modification made destructive Brazil floods two times as likely, scientists state

Environment modification made the current flooding that devastated southern Brazil twice as likely, a team of global scientists stated on Monday, adding that the heavy rains were also magnified by the natural El Nino phenomenon.

More than 170 individuals were eliminated and almost 580,000 displaced after storms and floods battered Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul last month, with regional authorities describing it as the worst catastrophe in the area's history.

Even in the present environment, specialists from the World Weather Attribution group stated, the heavy rainfall that submerged whole towns and destroyed vital infrastructure was an extremely. rare occasion expected to take place just as soon as every 100 to 250 years. However it would have been even rarer without the impacts of burning. fossil fuel, the group stated.

By combining weather condition observations with arise from climate. models, the scientists approximated that environment modification had actually made. the occasion in southern Brazil twice as likely and around 6% to 9%. more intense.

The climate in Brazil has actually currently changed, said Lincoln. Alves, a researcher at Brazil's area research study center INPE. This attribution research study verifies that human activities have. contributed to more extreme and frequent extreme occasions,. highlighting the country's vulnerability to environment modification.

The El Nino phenomenon, which adds to higher. temperature levels in lots of parts of the world and improves rainfall and. flood danger in parts of the Americas, also played a part in the. recent catastrophe, the scientists kept in mind.

The research study estimated El Nino increased the likelihood of the. event by a factor of 2 to 5, while making the rainfall 3% to 10%. more intense.

Failure of critical facilities, deforestation and the. fast urbanization of cities such as Rio Grande do Sul's capital. Porto Alegre, home to 1.3 million individuals, helped to magnify the. results of the catastrophe, the scientists included.

Regina Rodrigues, a researcher at the Federal University of. Santa Catarina, stated well-maintained flood security. infrastructure and appropriated urban preparation are needed to. reduce the impact of such severe occasions.

(source: Reuters)