Assessing and Adapting to Extreme Weather Events in BC

The goal of this research is to understand recent trends and variations in extreme weather events – such as intense winds, precipitation events, and high temperatures - in order to better inform and prepare communities for the future infrastructure, land-use planning, and public safety decisions that may be needed in light of changes resulting from climate change influences on BC’s regional weather patterns.

Extreme weather events can hit BC in the form of intense winds which take down trees and damage power lines, high volumes of precipitation which affect debris flows and water-born disease, or high temperatures which influence air quality and human health. The west coast of Canada is rapidly urbanizing and the concentration of infrastructure increases our society's vulnerability to extreme weather events and the potential costs resulting from damage.

Researchers:
Karen E. Kohfeld (REM)
Ken Lertzman (REM)
Andy Cooper (REM)
John Clague (EASC)

Students:
Brad Griffin (REM)
Christina Spry (REM)
Liz Sutton (REM)
Carrie-Ann Hancock (EASC)

Student projects undertaken as part of this research program include:
Changes in the frequency of extreme wind events in British Columbia (B. Griffin, K. E. Kohfeld, A. Cooper)
Climate change impacts on storm-induced debris flow hazards near Chilliwack, British Columbia (L. Sutton, K. E. Kohfeld, J. Clague)
Paleotempestology of the Pineapple Express (C. Spry, K. Lertzman, K. E. Kohfeld)

Cross-linkages with other CCIRC research projects include:
Water Quality and Human Health: Risk in a Changing Climate in British Columbia
Air Quality Impacts of Climate Change in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia