Measuring Heatwaves and Their
Impacts
Benjamin Disher, Brandon Edwards,
Thomas Lawler and Douglas Radford
The School of Civil, Environmental and Mining
Engineering, The University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, SA, Australia
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Heatwave Indices
Heatwave Impacts
Application of Indices to Impact Analysis
Future Directions
Bibliography
Glossary
Exposure The probability of being impacted by
a hazard of a given magnitude.
External Drivers Factors which influence the
vulnerability, hazard, and/or exposure components of risk.
Hazard The event (here, heatwave) causing risk to
a system or component with a given magnitude.
Indices Quantitative metrics based on atmospheric
parameters and other measurements used to measure the severity of heatwave events.
Return Period The average period expected
between a defined magnitude event.
Vulnerability The relationship between a hazard’s magnitude and the relative damage experienced by the component or system of interest.
Definition of the Subject
Heatwaves are widely reported natural hazards
that cause a myriad of negative impacts. Due to
climate change, heatwaves are predicted to occur
more frequently and with greater severity than
previously experienced. Despite increasing relevance, formal analysis of heatwaves and their
impacts is limited. Where studies have been
undertaken, there has been little consensus across
the world as to the most appropriate definition and
handling of extreme temperature events.
Introduction
Heatwaves remain one of the deadliest natural hazards globally, causing damage across a wide range
of industry sectors such as human health and infrastructure [1, 2]. In the health domain, heatwaves
cause more deaths in major cities than any other
extreme weather events [3], and past heatwaves
have caused widespread interruptions and damage
to the health, built environment, energy, transport,
agricultural, environmental, and water sectors. The
consequences of extreme heat events are underrepresented in research due to challenges in both defining a heatwave event and measuring its impacts [4].
Studies conducted suggest that even under
conditions of decreased greenhouse gas emissions, the frequency, intensity, and duration of
such heat events are likely to worsen in coming
decades [5], with losses in population due to natural disasters expected to increase with both climate change and growth and concentration [6]. In
contrast, current projections of greenhouse gas
emissions see the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves increasing significantly, which
are likely to exacerbate the adverse effects of
heatwaves. In most regions around the world, a
1 in 20-year hottest day event is likely to become a
1 in 2-year event due to climate change [7].
Consequently, there is a need to quantify the
impact of heatwaves upon these various sectors,
in order to effectively prepare for, and respond to,
future heatwave events. Heatwave indicators and
indices can act to transform relevant atmospheric
parameters into a risk or exposure level for a
particular sector (i.e., health, infrastructure, etc.)
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_1102
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC,
part of Springer Nature 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_1102-1
455
Impacts
Benjamin Disher, Brandon Edwards,
Thomas Lawler and Douglas Radford
The School of Civil, Environmental and Mining
Engineering, The University of Adelaide,
Adelaide, SA, Australia
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Heatwave Indices
Heatwave Impacts
Application of Indices to Impact Analysis
Future Directions
Bibliography
Glossary
Exposure The probability of being impacted by
a hazard of a given magnitude.
External Drivers Factors which influence the
vulnerability, hazard, and/or exposure components of risk.
Hazard The event (here, heatwave) causing risk to
a system or component with a given magnitude.
Indices Quantitative metrics based on atmospheric
parameters and other measurements used to measure the severity of heatwave events.
Return Period The average period expected
between a defined magnitude event.
Vulnerability The relationship between a hazard’s magnitude and the relative damage experienced by the component or system of interest.
Definition of the Subject
Heatwaves are widely reported natural hazards
that cause a myriad of negative impacts. Due to
climate change, heatwaves are predicted to occur
more frequently and with greater severity than
previously experienced. Despite increasing relevance, formal analysis of heatwaves and their
impacts is limited. Where studies have been
undertaken, there has been little consensus across
the world as to the most appropriate definition and
handling of extreme temperature events.
Introduction
Heatwaves remain one of the deadliest natural hazards globally, causing damage across a wide range
of industry sectors such as human health and infrastructure [1, 2]. In the health domain, heatwaves
cause more deaths in major cities than any other
extreme weather events [3], and past heatwaves
have caused widespread interruptions and damage
to the health, built environment, energy, transport,
agricultural, environmental, and water sectors. The
consequences of extreme heat events are underrepresented in research due to challenges in both defining a heatwave event and measuring its impacts [4].
Studies conducted suggest that even under
conditions of decreased greenhouse gas emissions, the frequency, intensity, and duration of
such heat events are likely to worsen in coming
decades [5], with losses in population due to natural disasters expected to increase with both climate change and growth and concentration [6]. In
contrast, current projections of greenhouse gas
emissions see the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves increasing significantly, which
are likely to exacerbate the adverse effects of
heatwaves. In most regions around the world, a
1 in 20-year hottest day event is likely to become a
1 in 2-year event due to climate change [7].
Consequently, there is a need to quantify the
impact of heatwaves upon these various sectors,
in order to effectively prepare for, and respond to,
future heatwave events. Heatwave indicators and
indices can act to transform relevant atmospheric
parameters into a risk or exposure level for a
particular sector (i.e., health, infrastructure, etc.)
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_1102
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC,
part of Springer Nature 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_1102-1
455