- Meteorological Phenomena and Simulations
- Climate variability and models
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Wind and Air Flow Studies
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Polar Research and Ecology
- Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Insurance and Financial Risk Management
- Adventure Sports and Sensation Seeking
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research
2012-2016
University of Bern
2012-2016
V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography
2016
German Climate Computing Centre
2013
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
2013
Studying a suff ciently large sample of extremes or analysing the statistics their occurrence, including trends, is hampered by length existing observation-based record.New data sets such as Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR), which consists an ensemble 56 members, signif cantly extend our record back in time.In this paper, we present examples winds at northern hemisphere mid-latitudes 20CR to illustrate challenges and opportunities for over longer period than previously possible.For four...
Assessments of local-scale windstorm hazard require highly resolved spatial information on wind speeds and gusts. In this study, maximum (peak) sustained a 3-km horizontal grid over Switzerland are obtained by dynamical downscaling from the Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) employing Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model. Subsequently, simulated peak gusts derived using four gust parameterizations (WGPs). Evaluations against observations at 63 locations in complex terrain include...
Abstract. In recent decades, extremely hazardous windstorms have caused enormous losses to buildings, infrastructure and forests in Switzerland. This has increased societal scientific interest the intensity frequency of historical high-impact storms. However, high-resolution wind data damage statistics mostly span decades only. For this study, we collected quantitative (e.g., volumes windfall timber, relating buildings) descriptive forestry or insurance reports) information on impact...
"Dynamical Downscaling and Loss Modeling for the Reconstruction of Historical Weather Extremes Their Impacts: A Severe Foehn Storm in 1925" published on Aug 2015 by American Meteorological Society.
Abstract The link between high precipitation in Dronning Maud Land (DML), Antarctica, and the large‐scale atmospheric circulation is investigated using ERA‐Interim data for 1979–2009. High‐precipitation events are analyzed at Halvfarryggen situated coastal region of DML Kohnen Station located its interior. This study further includes a comprehensive comparison with from Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) snow accumulation measurements automatic weather stations (AWSs), limitations...
This study investigates the wind gusts and associated economic loss patterns of high-impact winter windstorms in Switzerland between 1871 2011. A novel approach for simulating windstorm-related losses at regional to local scales is applied a sample 84 windstorms. The involves dynamical downscaling Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) ensemble mean 3-km horizontal grid size using Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model. Economic are simulated municipal level present-day asset distribution...
Abstract. With access to claims, insurers have a long tradition of being knowledge leaders on damages caused by windstorms. However, new opportunities arisen better assess the risks winter windstorms in Europe through availability historic footprints provided Windstorm Information Service (Copernicus WISC). In this study, we compare how modelling building complements claims-based risk assessment. We describe and use two windstorm models: an insurer's proprietary model open source CLIMADA...
Abstract. The western North Pacific (WNP) is the area of world most frequently affected by tropical cyclones (TCs). However, little known about socio-economic impacts TCs in this region, probably because limited relevant loss data. Here, data from Munich RE's NatCatSERVICE database used, a high-quality and widely consulted natural disasters. In country-level normalisation technique we apply, original are normalised to present-day exposure levels using respective country's nominal gross...
The decadal-scale variability in winter hazardous winds northern Switzerland from 1871 to present is investigated the Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR). Independent wind speed measurements taken at Zurich climate station show that interannual and decadal realistically represented 20CR. Both time series exhibit pronounced with periods between approximately 36 47 years. At these periodicities, positively correlated North Atlantic Oscillation, however strength statistical significance of...
Abstract. With access to claims, insurers have a long tradition of being knowledge leaders on damages caused by e.g. windstorms. However, new opportunities arisen better assess the risks winter windstorms in Europe through availability historic footprints provided Windstorm Information Service (Copernicus WISC). In this study, we compare how modelling building complements claims-based risk assessment. We describe and use two windstorm models: insurer's proprietary model open source CLIMADA...
Abstract. In recent decades, extremely hazardous windstorms have caused unanticipated losses to buildings, infrastructure and forests in Switzerland. This has increased societal scientific interest the intensity frequency of historical high-impact storms. However, high-resolution wind data damage statistics mostly span decades only. For this study, we collected quantitative (e.g., volumes windfall timber, buildings) descriptive forestry or insurance reports) information on impacts from...
<p>We compare the risk assessment for storm related building damage based on three different foundations: (1) insurance claims data, (2) modelled damages a historic event set of wind gust and (3) probabilistic extension set. Windstorms cause large socio-economic in Europe. In canton Zurich (Switzerland) they are responsible one third caused by natural hazards.</p><p>The Wind Storm Information Service (WISC) Copernicus Climate Change provides open...