Compound events of wet and dry extremes: Identification, variations, and risky patterns

Abstract

Compound hydrometeorological extremes have been widely examined under climate change, they have significant impacts on ecological and societal well-being. This study sheds light on a new category compound of contrasting extremes, namely compounding wet and dry extremes (CWDEs). The CWDEs are characterized as devastating dry events (EDs) accompanied by wet extremes (EWs) in a given time window. Notably, we first adopt a separate system to identify coinciding events considering the different evolving processes and impacting patterns of EDs and EWs. The peak-over-threshold and standardized index methods are used in a daily and monthly window to identify EWs and EDs respectively. Furthermore, the spatial-temporal changes and risky patterns of CWDEs are revealed by using the Mann-Kendall test, the Ordinary Least Squares, and the Global and Local Moran indices. Germany is the study case. As one major finding, the results indicate a pronounced seasonal effect and spatial clustering pattern of CWDEs. The summer is the most vulnerable period for CWDEs, and the spatial hotspots are mainly located in the southern tip of Germany, as well as in the vicinity of the capital city Berlin. Besides, robust uptrends in CWDEs across all evaluation metrics have been discovered in historical periods, and the moist climate and complex geography collectively contribute to severe CWDEs. Unexpectedly, the study finds that compounding events in dry regions are mainly driven by wet extremes, whereas they show a higher dependency on dry anomalies in wet regions. The research provides new insights into compound extremes which are composed of individual hazards with distinct features. Related findings will aid decision-makers in producing effective risk mitigation plans for prioritizing vulnerable regions. Lastly, the robust framework and open access data allow for extensive exploration of various compounding hazards in different regions.