Characterisation of Evolving Patterns and Underlying Regimes of Hydroclimatic Extremes in Europe

Abstract:

The dominant factors influencing hydroclimatic extreme events in Europe vary considerably across both time and space. Therefore, it is difficult to discern the dominant processes that govern floods and droughts in Europe. However, by focusing on large-scale physical processes that span beyond the catchment scale and on associated scale interactions, new insights can be gained on the resulting regional spatial patters.

By assembling and thoroughly analysing a new unique database, with over 5000 discharge gauging stations in Europe, with key physical principles in mind, a better understanding of the driving processes underlying hydroclimatic extreme events is obtained. For example, by taking into account different time scales, different regimes of the extreme hydrological patterns are identified and linked to large-scale climatic controls.

The improved understanding of how hydroclimatic extremes respond to their underlying controls in space and time paves the way for progress in the estimation of regimes and changes in floods and droughts.