Climate Impact & Forensics in Disasters

What is it?

This area focuses on applying forensic science techniques to identify victims, investigate causes, and assess liability during or after natural or climate-induced disasters.

Why is it important?

• Rising frequency of disasters (e.g. floods in Europe and Asia, wildfires in the US and Australia)

• Mass fatalities often require rapid and accurate identification of bodies

• Investigations are needed to determine:

  • Was it a natural event or a man-made disaster?

  • Were there human errors, negligence, or environmental crimes?

  • Who is responsible or liable (e.g. government, private companies)?

Key Forensic Roles in Climate Disasters

1. Disaster Victim Identification (DVI)

• Used in mass casualty events (e.g. wildfires, building collapses, floods)

• Techniques include:

  • DNA profiling

  • Dental forensics

  • Fingerprinting

  • Anthropology (skeletal analysis)

• Bodies are often badly decomposed, burned, or fragmented, making identification complex

2. Forensic Pathology

• Determines cause and manner of death

• Helps distinguish between:

  • Natural deaths (e.g. drowning, suffocation)

  • Homicide or negligence (e.g. trapped in unsafe infrastructure)

3. Environmental Forensics

• Investigates whether human actions contributed to the disaster

• Examples:

  • Illegal deforestation → landslides

  • Poor dam maintenance → floods

  • Toxic waste leaks during floods

  • Fires due to utility company negligence (e.g. PG&E fires in California)

4. Forensic Anthropology & Archaeology

• Excavation and identification of human remains in buried or remote disaster zones

• Can involve long-term investigations (e.g. landslides or tsunami aftermath)

5. Forensic Entomology

• Estimating postmortem interval (PMI) using insect activity on corpses in open, hot, or waterlogged environments

6. Geoforensics

• Use of geological and soil analysis to understand landslides, erosion, or sinkholes

• Can help in proving liability in court

7. Remote Sensing & Drone Forensics

• Used for site documentation, victim location, and damage assessment

• Drones help scan large and dangerous areas post-disaster

Real-World Examples

Challenges in This Field

• Severe body decomposition or dismemberment

• Contaminated evidence from water, heat, or debris

• Overwhelming number of casualties

• Legal issues around liability and compensation

• Lack of disaster preparedness and forensic infrastructure in developing regions

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