Articles | Volume 8, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-191-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-191-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
GC Insights
| Highlight paper
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17 Jul 2025
GC Insights | Highlight paper |
| 17 Jul 2025
| 17 Jul 2025
GC Insights: Breaking the silos – leveraging natural language processing (NLP) to encourage interdisciplinary interaction at the European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Jan Sodoge
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Taís Maria Nunes Carvalho
Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (ScaDS.AI) Dresden/Leipzig, Universität Leipzig, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Mariana Madruga de Brito
Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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We delved into the socio-economic impacts of the 2018–2022 drought in Germany. We derived a dataset covering the impacts of droughts in Germany between 2000 and 2022 on sectors such as agriculture and forestry based on newspaper articles. Notably, our study illustrated that the longer drought had a wider reach and more varied effects. We show that dealing with longer droughts requires different plans compared to shorter ones, and it is crucial to be ready for the challenges they bring.
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The risk flood of flood impacts is dynamic as society continuously responds to specific events or ongoing developments. We analyzed 28 studies that assess such dynamics of vulnerability. Most research uses surveys and basic statistics data, while integrated, flexible models are seldom used. The studies struggle to link specific events or developments to the observed changes. Our findings highlight needs and possible directions towards a better assessment of vulnerability dynamics.
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A conventional flood risk assessment only evaluates flood hazard in isolation without considering wildfires. This study, therefore, evaluates the effect of wildfires on flood risk, considering both current and future conditions for the Ebro River basin in Spain. Results show that extreme climate change increases the risk of flooding, especially when considering the effect of wildfires, highlighting the importance of adopting a multi-hazard risk management approach.
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This research by the Drought in the Anthropocene (DitA) network highlights gaps in European drought management exposed by the 2022 drought and proposes a new direction. Using a Europe-wide survey of water managers, we examine four areas: increasing drought risk, impacts, drought management strategies, and their evolution. Despite growing risks, management remains fragmented and short-term. However, signs of improvement suggest readiness for change. We advocate for a European Drought Directive.
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We delved into the socio-economic impacts of the 2018–2022 drought in Germany. We derived a dataset covering the impacts of droughts in Germany between 2000 and 2022 on sectors such as agriculture and forestry based on newspaper articles. Notably, our study illustrated that the longer drought had a wider reach and more varied effects. We show that dealing with longer droughts requires different plans compared to shorter ones, and it is crucial to be ready for the challenges they bring.
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We conducted a systematic literature review of socio-hydrological studies applied to natural hazards and disaster research. Results indicate that there is a wide range of understanding of what
socialmeans in socio-hydrology, and monodisciplinary studies prevail. We expect to encourage socio-hydrologists to investigate different disasters using a more integrative approach that combines natural and social sciences tools by involving stakeholders and broadening the use of mixed methods.
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The review of flood vulnerability indices revealed that (1) temporal dynamic aspects were often disregarded, (2) coping and adaptive capacity indicators were frequently ignored, as obtaining these data demand time and effort, and (3) most studies neither applied sensitivity (90.5 %) or uncertainty analyses (96.8 %) nor validated the results (86.3 %). The study highlights the importance of addressing these gaps to produce scientifically rigorous and comparable research.
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Executive editor
Breaking silos is key to science. A tool as investigated by this work, to show interesting related abstracts across silos could have considerable value. In the editorial team's anecdotal and personal view, the tool implemented at EGU's recent General Assembly in 2025 is was very valuable. So, this work is of interest to the organisers of larger conferences in all fields.
Breaking silos is key to science. A tool as investigated by this work, to show interesting...
Short summary
Thousands of geoscience abstracts are presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, but researchers often miss key insights by focusing on their own field. Using natural language processing (NLP), we help scientists find relevant research across disciplines. This approach breaks down boundaries, encouraging broader knowledge sharing and new interdisciplinary connections in the geosciences.
Thousands of geoscience abstracts are presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General...
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