Many different heatwave indices and parameters
have been created in this spirit.
At present, many indicators and indices capture the human health impacts of heatwaves, but
there remains no commonly accepted metric in
this domain [8]. Less research has been undertaken to quantify the impact of heatwaves on
non-health areas, particularly within the subsets
of infrastructure (electrical, transport, roads, etc.)
and agriculture. The existing literature has identified some of the broad observed impacts of particular heatwaves upon various non- health areas,
demonstrating a need for indicators and indices
better suited to these areas, alongside understanding of what drives these adverse outcomes.
As few attempts at evaluating and predicting
the effect of heatwaves on different non-health
sectors have been made, a primary objective of
this research is to create a standardized approach
for determining these impacts and identifying
suitable indicators which can predict and quantify
these impacts. Validating such a framework
through case studies and the like will be necessary. Finally, a case for the release of data for
heatwave analysis from non-health sectors such
that required analysis may be undertaken will
be made.
The need for a structured framework approach
is identified in the critical infrastructure and climate change review by Mikellidou et al. [9],
which highlights that attempts to quantify impacts
to date have failed to discuss interdependencies
and resilience and often varied in analytical and
methodological approach. Mikellidou et al. [9]
and Hatvani-Kovacs et al. [10] call for an integrative approach to climate change analysis to understand heatwave impacts. A need identified by
Hatvani-Kovacs et al. [10] is the ability for predictive analysis of heatwave impacts such that
scarce resources may be efficiently utilized.
One approach to natural disaster risk management, created by Van Delden et al. [11], is the
Unified Natural Hazard Risk Mitigation Exploratory Decision Support System (UNHaRMED).
The UNHaRMED framework uses the risk triangle approach (hazard-exposure-vulnerability) to
determine the risk of natural hazards and is currently in use for earthquakes, coastal inundation,
riverine flooding, and bushfire events. The framework has the capability for integrated and predictive risk analysis, but not yet been applied to
heatwaves. Similar frameworks include the
health-orientated extreme heat vulnerability
framework created by Wilhelmi and Hayden
[12], and the vulnerability assessment and adaptation framework created by Filosa et al. [13].
These approaches to evaluating risk require the
determination of the hazard, the exposure of
stakeholders to the hazard, and the relationship
between the exposure/hazard and the impact that
will be observed.
Heatwave hazards are often defined using indices which consider some combination of atmospheric variables. These indices are quantitative
and allow for the comparison of different
heatwave events. Relevant in the definition of
indices are the atmospheric variables used to create the index. Examples of different heatwave
indices are presented later in this literature review.
The exposure of system components to a given
heatwave event is anticipated to be highly system
and component dependent. An example of exposure may be that electrical infrastructure located
over urban green spaces is exposed to only 80% of
a heatwave’s magnitude due to the cooling effect
of the land use, compared to electrical infrastructure located over roads, which is exposed to 100%
of the hazard magnitude. It is anticipated that
using geographical information system (GIS)
tools to log components and their properties
(including exposure) will be beneficial in understanding heatwaves and their impacts from a spatial perspective.
The hazard intensity and damage relationship
is given in a functional form known as a vulnerability curve. Papathoma-Köhle et al. [14], for
example, consider vulnerability curves in the setting of alpine hazards such as landslides, avalanches, and debris flow. It is anticipated that
expert stakeholder analysis from those familiar
with individual systems will be required for
understanding the impacts of heatwaves. By
understanding the impacts of heatwaves, and
their drivers, it will be possible to identify which
indices will be most relevant to the impacts, and
how the impacts may change with changes in
456
Measuring Heatwaves and Their Impacts
have been created in this spirit.
At present, many indicators and indices capture the human health impacts of heatwaves, but
there remains no commonly accepted metric in
this domain [8]. Less research has been undertaken to quantify the impact of heatwaves on
non-health areas, particularly within the subsets
of infrastructure (electrical, transport, roads, etc.)
and agriculture. The existing literature has identified some of the broad observed impacts of particular heatwaves upon various non- health areas,
demonstrating a need for indicators and indices
better suited to these areas, alongside understanding of what drives these adverse outcomes.
As few attempts at evaluating and predicting
the effect of heatwaves on different non-health
sectors have been made, a primary objective of
this research is to create a standardized approach
for determining these impacts and identifying
suitable indicators which can predict and quantify
these impacts. Validating such a framework
through case studies and the like will be necessary. Finally, a case for the release of data for
heatwave analysis from non-health sectors such
that required analysis may be undertaken will
be made.
The need for a structured framework approach
is identified in the critical infrastructure and climate change review by Mikellidou et al. [9],
which highlights that attempts to quantify impacts
to date have failed to discuss interdependencies
and resilience and often varied in analytical and
methodological approach. Mikellidou et al. [9]
and Hatvani-Kovacs et al. [10] call for an integrative approach to climate change analysis to understand heatwave impacts. A need identified by
Hatvani-Kovacs et al. [10] is the ability for predictive analysis of heatwave impacts such that
scarce resources may be efficiently utilized.
One approach to natural disaster risk management, created by Van Delden et al. [11], is the
Unified Natural Hazard Risk Mitigation Exploratory Decision Support System (UNHaRMED).
The UNHaRMED framework uses the risk triangle approach (hazard-exposure-vulnerability) to
determine the risk of natural hazards and is currently in use for earthquakes, coastal inundation,
riverine flooding, and bushfire events. The framework has the capability for integrated and predictive risk analysis, but not yet been applied to
heatwaves. Similar frameworks include the
health-orientated extreme heat vulnerability
framework created by Wilhelmi and Hayden
[12], and the vulnerability assessment and adaptation framework created by Filosa et al. [13].
These approaches to evaluating risk require the
determination of the hazard, the exposure of
stakeholders to the hazard, and the relationship
between the exposure/hazard and the impact that
will be observed.
Heatwave hazards are often defined using indices which consider some combination of atmospheric variables. These indices are quantitative
and allow for the comparison of different
heatwave events. Relevant in the definition of
indices are the atmospheric variables used to create the index. Examples of different heatwave
indices are presented later in this literature review.
The exposure of system components to a given
heatwave event is anticipated to be highly system
and component dependent. An example of exposure may be that electrical infrastructure located
over urban green spaces is exposed to only 80% of
a heatwave’s magnitude due to the cooling effect
of the land use, compared to electrical infrastructure located over roads, which is exposed to 100%
of the hazard magnitude. It is anticipated that
using geographical information system (GIS)
tools to log components and their properties
(including exposure) will be beneficial in understanding heatwaves and their impacts from a spatial perspective.
The hazard intensity and damage relationship
is given in a functional form known as a vulnerability curve. Papathoma-Köhle et al. [14], for
example, consider vulnerability curves in the setting of alpine hazards such as landslides, avalanches, and debris flow. It is anticipated that
expert stakeholder analysis from those familiar
with individual systems will be required for
understanding the impacts of heatwaves. By
understanding the impacts of heatwaves, and
their drivers, it will be possible to identify which
indices will be most relevant to the impacts, and
how the impacts may change with changes in
456
Measuring Heatwaves and Their Impacts