FAct CLIMAX

The availability of robust and easily interpretable information about the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of climate related-hazards, especially climate extremes, is an increasing need not only for the research community but also for a wide range of sectors and applications. The European Environmental Agency has been currently supporting, in the framework of the European Topic Centre on Climate Change impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC-CCA), the review and selection of suitable climate-related indices for Europe to be recommended and implemented for adaptation purposes.

By starting from pan-European recommendations, the project aims at deriving and tuning a consistent set of indices describing and measuring some of the most relevant climate-related hazards in South Tyrol, e.g. extreme heat, intense precipitation, drought and storms, under current and future scenarios. To this purpose, suitable index definitions for the local scale will be identified and European and local climate data will be exploited and combined through the application of proper downscaling methods. The resulting index database will be used to assess the variability and trends of hazards in the Province and will promote further research on climate change and risk assessment as well as support the activities of the other research lines of the EO Institute.

Contact person: Alice Crespi alice.crespi@eurac.edu