Climate-induced geohazards mitigation, management, and education in Japan, South Korea, and Norway (GEOMME)

Climate-induced geohazards are significant concerns in the GEOMME partner countries Japan, South-Korea and Norway, where events commonly result in widespread damage and loss-of-life. These hazards are connected to climate through their triggering mechanism – the set of metrological factors which initiate geohazard events. Climate change is in general anticipated to increase the frequency and magnitude of geohazard events, and changes in demographics and infrastructure development are further increasing the societal exposure. If left unmitigated, climate and demographic change will compound to greatly increase societal risk. The challenges addressed in GEOMME are of global significance. The development of future solutions requires increased international research collaboration between countries with common challenges. The GEOMME partnership will address these issues in a research network between professional environments in Norway, Japan and South Korea, all world-leading environments within climate-induced geohazards, and with complementary leading expertise in geohazards and risk management. The GEOMME partnership will increase the adaptive capacity of the partner nations to climate change through research-based education, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration. Activities centre on four scientific themes: (1) geohazards in a changing climate, (2) geohazards over large spatial scales, (3) advanced modelling and monitoring techniques, and (4) green solutions for hazard- and risk mitigation. GEOMME will develop four graduate-level courses, each focusing on one of the scientific themes, for university and practitioner education. The courses will rotate between the partner countries: Norway in 2022, Japan in 2023, South Korea in 2024, and returning to Norway in 2025. Each course will additionally develop an online module, accessible through the GEOMME webpage. Courses will be advertised in Norway through the iEarth network.

The GEOMME international partnership for Climate-induced geohazards mitigation, management, and education coalesces international expertise in research and education from South Korea, Japan, and Norway. The partnership focuses on excellence in education and research to increase societal resilience against climate-induced geohazards. Geohazards are geological and environmental conditions that may lead to loss of life and widespread damage. They include floods, landslides, debris flows, rockfalls and avalanches, among others. Geohazards can have devastating impacts on society, affecting population, economy, industry, cultural heritage, and the natural environment. Climate change is amplifying the risk to population and infrastructure, with generally wetter and warmer weather and more intense and frequent precipitation. New developments in mountainous areas increase societal exposure. Transport infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges) are particularly vulnerable as the networks traverse regions exposed to geohazards. GEOMME identifies four areas for scientific advancement in geohazard research and education (termed 'progression domains', PD): PD1: Geohazards and risk in a changing climate, PD2: Geohazards and risk over large spatial scales, PD3: Advanced simulations, modelling, and monitoring of geohazards, and PD4: Green solutions in hazard- and riskmitigation practice. The PDs form the thematic areas of collaboration and are identified based on the expertise of the Partners, the unique research infrastructure available in each institute, and perceived knowledge gaps. The GEOMME partnership will enable exchange of knowledge and ideas, research collaboration, training, and graduate education. GEOMME will develop four courses, one from each PD, and integrate aspects of research, experience, and field-based teaching and learning. Activities will rotate from one country to the other and will focus on the thematic PDs.