Coastal land is being lost worldwide at an alarming rate due to relative sea-level rise (RSLR) resulting from vertical land motion (VLM). This problem is understudied at a global scale, due to high spatial variability and difficulties reconciling VLM between regions. Here we provide self-consistent, high spatial resolution VLM observations derived from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar for the 51 largest coastal cities, representing 22% of the global urban population. We show that peak subsidence rates are faster than current global mean sea-level rise rates and VLM contributions to RSLR are greater than IPCC projections in 90% and 53% of the cities respectively. Localized VLM worsens RSLR impacts on land and population in 73-75% of the cities, with Chittagong (Bangladesh), Yangon (Myanmar) and Jakarta (Indonesia) at greatest risk. With this dataset, accurate projections and comparisons of RSLR effects accounting for VLM are now possible for urban areas at a global scale. Sea-level rise resulting from climate change has rightly received substantial attention from researchers, practitioners and the public as an ongoing threat that needs to be addressed 1 . Yet lesser attention has been paid to land subsidence which can exceed tens of mm/year 2-4 , and increase local relative sea-level rise (RSLR) many times that of global mean sea-level rise of few mm/year alone 5,6 . Local RSLR, defined as sea-level rise relative to local land height, is what effectively matters for any coastal community. Furthermore, many coastal areas experiencing the fastest land subsidence are major cities built on flat, low elevation river deltas, exposing large populations and substantial economic value to the impacts of local RSLR 7,8 . Consequently, it is crucial to consider land subsidence when assessing coastal risks of RSLR 9,10 . Vertical land motion (VLM) -either subsidence (downward land motion) or uplift (upward land motion) -can be caused by several factors such as tectonics 11,12 , natural compaction of sediments 7,8 , groundwater, oil, and gas extraction 2,4 , reduced aggradation due to dams, levees, and loss of coastal vegetation 5 , and glacial isostatic adjustment 13,14 . Because these contributing factors vary significantly over a range of temporal and spatial scales, the contribution of VLM to RSLR has been difficult to assess on a global scale 15 . Many local-to regional-scale studies have mapped VLM at different coastal localities over different time

During the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, we made flood and damage proxy maps, rapidly derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data using change detection approaches. The maps have large spatial coverage over the Tokyo, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Iwate, and Nagano prefectures of Japan. The maps are also largely in agreement with various validation sources including aerial imagery, optical imagery and news sources. Apart from visual maps, we provide flood and damage extents in various formats compatible with geographic information system (GIS) applications. The data may potentially be used for applications such as typhoon risk modelling, investigating spatial correlations of typhoon impacts, and comparing alternative flood or damage mapping techniques.

A series of four Mw>6 earthquakes struck the northern region of Lombok, eastern Indonesia, in a span of three weeks from late July to mid-August 2018. The series was thought to be associated with the Flores thrust, but the exact mechanism causing the unusual earthquake series has remained elusive. Our Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar analysis, combined with insights from seismology, indicates that the events originated at different hypocenter depths with differing fault geometries, which may explain the cascading behavior of the events, and indicates that better imaging of active fault geometry might provide some insight into future rupture behavior on other similar thrust systems. Our static stress change calculations suggest that the earlier events in the sequence played a role in promoting the later events. In addition, the second event brought the most significant impact on a nearby volcano, by causing volumetric expansion at its shallow magma plumbing system and unclamping its magma ascent zone, which may potentially have an impact on its future eruptive activity. However, no volcanic activity has so far occurred after the earthquakes. Finally, our damage proxy maps suggest that the second event caused the greatest damage to buildings.

This paper deals with questions of beach resort development processes and their management. Issues are discussed within the context of Boracay Island in the Philippines, which is a popular destination, but one that is at risk from uncontrolled growth. The framework for the analysis is an existing model, and comparisons between it and the case reveal similarities and divergences. Findings suggest the unique qualities of individual resorts arising from local and national circumstances, but indicate more general patterns and attendant challenges that have a wider applicability. Development models are also seen to be useful, despite their limitations.