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A compound event framework for understanding extreme impacts

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 09:04 authored by Leonard, M, Westra, S, Phatak, A, Lambert, M, van den Hurk, B, McInnes, K, James RisbeyJames Risbey, Schuster, S, Jakob, D, Stafford-Smith, M
Climate and weather variables such as rainfall, temperature, and pressure are indicators for hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, and fires. The impact of these events can be due to a single variable being in an extreme state, but more often it is the result of a combination of variables not all of which are necessarily extreme. Here, the combination of variables or events that lead to an extreme impact is referred to as a compound event. Any given compound event will depend upon the nature and number of physical variables, the range of spatial and temporal scales, the strength of dependence between processes, and the perspective of the stakeholder who defines the impact. Modeling compound events is a large, complex, and interdisciplinary undertaking. To facilitate this task we propose the use of influence diagrams for defining, mapping, analyzing, modeling, and communicating the risk of the compound event. Ultimately, a greater appreciation of compound events will lead to further insight and a changed perspective on how impact risks are associated with climate-related hazards.

History

Publication title

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change

Volume

5

Pagination

113-128

ISSN

1757-7780

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Wiley

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

© 2013 John Wiley & Sons

Repository Status

  • Restricted

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