Quantitative risk assessment for future meteorological disasters

Abstract

The 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report stated that in many regions extreme climate events are becoming increasingly frequent and that this trend will continue. However, few quantitative studies have examined the damage to society or industry that may be caused by future meteorological disasters. This study quantitatively estimates the risk of future drought and winter disasters (dzud) in Mongolia leading to massive livestock loss by applying an empirical tree-based model to data derived from the basic local trend in projections of an Earth system model (a climate model coupled with ecosystem models) based on the Special Report on Emissions Scenario A2. The results indicate that drought is the dominant factor for high livestock mortality, and the frequency of meteorological disasters leading to high livestock mortality during 2010–2099 will be lower than that during 1940–2003, mainly because of a slight increase in the leaf area index (LAI, representing forage for livestock), which is caused by increased summer rainfall. The increased precipitation in summer is likely caused mainly by increased precipitable water due to higher air temperature, rather than changes in atmospheric circulation. By the end of the 21st century, however, LAI will drop in the southern most province of Mongolia, inducing severe livestock mortality. This will be caused by extremely high temperatures, which may continue to increase in degree and extent after 2100 if climate change continues.