Articles | Volume 12, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-103-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-103-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Simulating compound weather extremes responsible for critical crop failure with stochastic weather generators
Peter Pfleiderer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Climate Analytics, Berlin, Germany
Department of Geography, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Earth System Analysis, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany
Aglaé Jézéquel
LMD/IPSL, ENS, PSL Université, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
École des Ponts Paristech, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
Juliette Legrand
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR8212 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, IPSL & U Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Natacha Legrix
Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
Iason Markantonis
INRASTES Department, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, Greece
Edoardo Vignotto
Research Center for Statistics, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
Pascal Yiou
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, UMR8212 CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, IPSL & U Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Related authors
Peter Pfleiderer, Anna Merrifield, István Dunkl, Homer Durand, Enora Cariou, Julien Cattiaux, and Sebastian Sippel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2397, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2397, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Due to changes in atmospheric circulation some regions are warming quicker than others. Statistical methods are used to estimate how much of the local summer temperature trends are due to circulation changes. We evaluate these methods by comparing their estimates to special simulations representing only temperature changes related to circulation changes. By applying the methods to observations of 1979–2023 we find that half of the warming over parts of Europe is related to circulation changes.
Sarah Schöngart, Lukas Gudmundsson, Mathias Hauser, Peter Pfleiderer, Quentin Lejeune, Shruti Nath, Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne, and Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 8283–8320, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-8283-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-8283-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Precipitation and temperature are two of the most impact-relevant climatic variables. Yet, projecting future precipitation and temperature data under different emission scenarios relies on complex models that are computationally expensive. In this study, we propose a method that allows us to generate monthly means of local precipitation and temperature at low computational costs. Our modelling framework is particularly useful for all downstream applications of climate model data.
Peter Pfleiderer, Shruti Nath, and Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 471–482, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-471-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-471-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Tropical cyclones are amongst the most dangerous weather events. Here we develop an empirical model that allows us to estimate the number and strengths of tropical cyclones for given atmospheric conditions and sea surface temperatures. An application of the model shows that atmospheric circulation is the dominant factor for seasonal tropical cyclone activity. However, warming sea surface temperatures have doubled the likelihood of extremely active hurricane seasons in the past decades.
Davide Faranda, Lucas Taligrot, Pascal Yiou, and Nada Caud
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2222, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2222, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscience Communication (GC).
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a free online game called ClimarisQ to help people better understand climate change and extreme weather. By playing the game, users learn how decisions about the environment, money, and public opinion affect future risks. We studied how players reacted and found that the game makes climate issues easier to grasp and encourages discussion. This shows that interactive tools like games can support learning and action on climate and environmental challenges.
Robin Noyelle, Davide Faranda, Yoann Robin, Mathieu Vrac, and Pascal Yiou
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 817–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-817-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-817-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Properties of extreme meteorological and climatological events are changing under human-caused climate change. Extreme event attribution methods seek to estimate the contribution of global warming in the probability and intensity changes of extreme events. Here we propose a procedure to estimate these quantities for the flow analogue method, which compares the observed event to similar events in the past.
Laura Hasbini, Pascal Yiou, Laurent Boissier, and Arthur Perringaux
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3138, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3138, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Winter windstorms are the main natural hazard for Generali France. We present a method linking storm events to insurance claims, with a focus on clustered events (multiple storms hitting the same region within 96 h). These account for 85 % of losses since 1998 and include major events like Lothar and Klaus. Damaging storms are twice as likely to occur in clusters, underlining the need to account for their impact in risk, loss, and reinsurance modelling.
Peter Pfleiderer, Anna Merrifield, István Dunkl, Homer Durand, Enora Cariou, Julien Cattiaux, and Sebastian Sippel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2397, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2397, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Due to changes in atmospheric circulation some regions are warming quicker than others. Statistical methods are used to estimate how much of the local summer temperature trends are due to circulation changes. We evaluate these methods by comparing their estimates to special simulations representing only temperature changes related to circulation changes. By applying the methods to observations of 1979–2023 we find that half of the warming over parts of Europe is related to circulation changes.
Ferran Lopez-Marti, Mireia Ginesta, Davide Faranda, Anna Rutgersson, Pascal Yiou, Lichuan Wu, and Gabriele Messori
Earth Syst. Dynam., 16, 169–187, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-169-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-16-169-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Explosive cyclones and atmospheric rivers are two main drivers of extreme weather in Europe. In this study, we investigate their joint changes in future climates over the North Atlantic. Our results show that both the concurrence of these events and the intensity of atmospheric rivers increase by the end of the century across different future scenarios. Furthermore, explosive cyclones associated with atmospheric rivers last longer and are deeper than those without atmospheric rivers.
Camille Cadiou and Pascal Yiou
Weather Clim. Dynam., 6, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-1-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Extreme cold winter temperatures in Europe have huge societal impacts. This study focuses on extreme cold events, such as the winter of 1963 in France, which are expected to become rarer due to climate change. We use a light and efficient rare-event algorithm to simulate a large number of extreme cold winters over France to analyse their characteristics. We find that despite fewer occurrences, their intensity remains steady. We analyse prevailing atmospheric circulation during these events.
Sarah Schöngart, Lukas Gudmundsson, Mathias Hauser, Peter Pfleiderer, Quentin Lejeune, Shruti Nath, Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne, and Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 8283–8320, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-8283-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-8283-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Precipitation and temperature are two of the most impact-relevant climatic variables. Yet, projecting future precipitation and temperature data under different emission scenarios relies on complex models that are computationally expensive. In this study, we propose a method that allows us to generate monthly means of local precipitation and temperature at low computational costs. Our modelling framework is particularly useful for all downstream applications of climate model data.
Camille Cadiou and Pascal Yiou
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3473, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3473, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Cold extremes significantly affect healthcare and energy systems. Global warming is expected to reduce these extremes. Our study indeed shows that very intense cold spells will become nearly impossible in France by the end of the 21st century for high levels of warming. However, we demonstrate that events as intense as the 1985 cold spell in France may still occur in the near future. These events are linked to specific atmospheric patterns that bring cold air from high latitudes into Europe.
Sebastian Sippel, Clair Barnes, Camille Cadiou, Erich Fischer, Sarah Kew, Marlene Kretschmer, Sjoukje Philip, Theodore G. Shepherd, Jitendra Singh, Robert Vautard, and Pascal Yiou
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 943–957, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-943-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-943-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Winter temperatures in central Europe have increased. But cold winters can still cause problems for energy systems, infrastructure, or human health. Here we tested whether a record-cold winter, such as the one observed in 1963 over central Europe, could still occur despite climate change. The answer is yes: it is possible, but it is very unlikely. Our results rely on climate model simulations and statistical rare event analysis. In conclusion, society must be prepared for such cold winters.
Davide Faranda, Gabriele Messori, Erika Coppola, Tommaso Alberti, Mathieu Vrac, Flavio Pons, Pascal Yiou, Marion Saint Lu, Andreia N. S. Hisi, Patrick Brockmann, Stavros Dafis, Gianmarco Mengaldo, and Robert Vautard
Weather Clim. Dynam., 5, 959–983, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-959-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-5-959-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We introduce ClimaMeter, a tool offering real-time insights into extreme-weather events. Our tool unveils how climate change and natural variability affect these events, affecting communities worldwide. Our research equips policymakers and the public with essential knowledge, fostering informed decisions and enhancing climate resilience. We analysed two distinct events, showcasing ClimaMeter's global relevance.
Meriem Krouma, Riccardo Silini, and Pascal Yiou
Earth Syst. Dynam., 14, 273–290, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-273-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-14-273-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We present a simple system to forecast the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO). We use atmospheric circulation as input to our system. We found a good-skill forecast of the MJO amplitude within 40 d using this methodology. Comparing our results with ECMWF and machine learning forecasts confirmed the good skill of our system.
Davide Faranda, Stella Bourdin, Mireia Ginesta, Meriem Krouma, Robin Noyelle, Flavio Pons, Pascal Yiou, and Gabriele Messori
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 1311–1340, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-1311-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-1311-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the atmospheric circulation leading to impactful extreme events for the calendar year 2021 such as the Storm Filomena, Westphalia floods, Hurricane Ida and Medicane Apollo. For some of the events, we find that climate change has contributed to their occurrence or enhanced their intensity; for other events, we find that they are unprecedented. Our approach underscores the importance of considering changes in the atmospheric circulation when performing attribution studies.
Meriem Krouma, Pascal Yiou, Céline Déandreis, and Soulivanh Thao
Geosci. Model Dev., 15, 4941–4958, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4941-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-4941-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluated the skill of a stochastic weather generator (SWG) to forecast precipitation at different time scales and in different areas of western Europe from analogs of Z500 hPa. The SWG has the skill to simulate precipitation for 5 and 10 d. We found that forecast weaknesses can be associated with specific weather patterns. The comparison with ECMWF forecasts confirms the skill of our model. This work is important because it provides information about weather forecasts over specific areas.
Miriam D'Errico, Flavio Pons, Pascal Yiou, Soulivanh Tao, Cesare Nardini, Frank Lunkeit, and Davide Faranda
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 961–992, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-961-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-961-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change is already affecting weather extremes. In a warming climate, we will expect the cold spells to decrease in frequency and intensity. Our analysis shows that the frequency of circulation patterns leading to snowy cold-spell events over Italy will not decrease under business-as-usual emission scenarios, although the associated events may not lead to cold conditions in the warmer scenarios.
Peter Pfleiderer, Shruti Nath, and Carl-Friedrich Schleussner
Weather Clim. Dynam., 3, 471–482, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-471-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-471-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Tropical cyclones are amongst the most dangerous weather events. Here we develop an empirical model that allows us to estimate the number and strengths of tropical cyclones for given atmospheric conditions and sea surface temperatures. An application of the model shows that atmospheric circulation is the dominant factor for seasonal tropical cyclone activity. However, warming sea surface temperatures have doubled the likelihood of extremely active hurricane seasons in the past decades.
Linh N. Luu, Robert Vautard, Pascal Yiou, and Jean-Michel Soubeyroux
Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 687–702, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-687-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-687-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study downscales climate information from EURO-CORDEX (approx. 12 km) output to a higher horizontal resolution (approx. 3 km) for the south of France. We also propose a matrix of different indices to evaluate the high-resolution precipitation output. We find that a higher resolution reproduces more realistic extreme precipitation events at both daily and sub-daily timescales. Our results and approach are promising to apply to other Mediterranean regions and climate impact studies.
Pascal Yiou and Nicolas Viovy
Earth Syst. Dynam., 12, 997–1013, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-997-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-12-997-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a model of tree ruin as a response to drought hazards. This model is inspired by a standard model of ruin in the insurance industry. We illustrate how ruin can occur in present-day conditions and the sensitivity of ruin and time to ruin to hazard statistical properties. We also show how tree strategies to cope with hazards can affect their long-term reserves and the probability of ruin.
Cited articles
ARVALIS: Rendements catastrophiques du blé en 2016: la pluie, seule
responsable?, available at:
https://www.semencesdefrance.com/actualite-semences-de-france/rendements-catastrophiques-ble-2016-pluie-seule-responsable/
(last access: 23 October 2020), 2016 (in French). a
Ben-Ari, T., Adrian, J., Klein, T., Calanca, P., Van der Velde, M., and
Makowski, D.: Identifying indicators for extreme wheat and maize yield
losses, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 220, 130–140, 2016. a
Cassou, C., Terray, L., and Phillips, A. S.: Tropical Atlantic influence on
European heat waves, J. Climate, 18, 2805–2811, 2005. a
Cooley, D.: Extreme value analysis and the study of climate change, Climatic Change, 97, 77–83, 2009. a
de Bruijn, K. M., Lips, N., Gersonius, B., and Middelkoop, H.: The storyline
approach: a new way to analyse and improve flood event management, Nat.
Hazards, 81, 99–121, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-2074-2, 2016. a
FAO: Agricultural statistics database, Rome: World Agricultural, Information
Center, available at: http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx (last access: 22 May 2020), 2013. a
Haylock, M. R., Hofstra, N., Tank, A. M. G. K., Klok, E. J., Jones, P. D., and New, M.: A European daily high-resolution gridded data set of surface
temperature and precipitation for 1950–2006, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos.,
113, D20119, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010,201, 2008. a
Hazeleger, W., Van Den Hurk, B. J., Min, E., Van Oldenborgh, G. J., Petersen,
A. C., Stainforth, D. A., Vasileiadou, E., and Smith, L. A.: Tales of future weather, Nat. Clim. Change, 5, 107–113, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2450,
2015. a, b
Jaworski, P., Durante, F., Hardle, W. K., and Rychlik, T.: Copula theory and
its applications, vol. 198, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2010. a
Jézéquel, A., Cattiaux, J., Naveau, P., Radanovics, S., Ribes, A., Vautard,
R., Vrac, M., and Yiou, P.: Trends of atmospheric circulation during singular hot days in Europe, Environ. Res. Lett., 13, 054007, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aab5da, 2018. a, b
Kistler, R., Kalnay, E., Collins, W., Saha, S., White, G., Woollen, J.,
Chelliah, M., Ebisuzaki, W., Kanamitsu, M., Kousky, V., van den Dool, H.,
Jenne, R., and Fiorino, M.: The NCEP-NCAR 50-year reanalysis: Monthly
means CD-ROM and documentation, B. Am. Meteor. Soc., 82, 247–267, 2001. a
MacDonald, R. B. and Hall, F. G.: Global crop forecasting, Science, 208,
670–679, 1980. a
Massey, N., Jones, R., Otto, F., Aina, T., Wilson, S., Murphy, J., Hassell, D., Yamazaki, Y., and Allen, M.: weather@ home–development and validation of a very large ensemble modelling system for probabilistic event attribution,
Q. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 141, 1528–1545, 2015a. a
Massey, N., Jones, R., Otto, F. E. L., Aina, T., Wilson, S., Murphy, J. M.,
Hassell, D., Yamazaki, Y. H., and Allen, M. R.: weather@home–development
and validation of a very large ensemble modelling system for probabilistic
event attribution, Q. J. Roy. Met. Soc., 141, 1528–1545,
https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.2455, 2015b. a
Müller, C., Elliott, J., Kelly, D., Arneth, A., Balkovic, J., Ciais, P., Deryng, D., Folberth, C., Hoek, S., Izaurralde, R. C., Jones, C. D., Khabarov, N., Lawrence, P., Liu, W., Olin, S., Pugh, T. A. M., Reddy, A., Rosenzweig, C., Ruane, A. C., Sakurai, G., Schmid, E., Skalsky, R., Wang, X., de Wit, A., and Yang, H.: The Global
Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison phase 1 simulation dataset, Scientific
Data, 6, 1–22, 2019. a
NOAA: North Atlantic Oscillation, available at:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/precip/CWlink/pna/nao.shtml,
last access: 10 January 2020. a
OEC: The Observatory of Economic Complexity, available at: https://oec.world/en/, last access: 23 April 2020. a
Peixoto, J. P. and Oort, A. H.: Physics of Climate: New York, American Institute of Physics, New York, United States, 520 pp., 1992. a
Pfleiderer, P., Jézéquel, A., Legrand, J., Legrix, N., Markantonis, I., Vignotto, E., and Yiou, P.: analogues_of_2016_crop_failure_in_France, Zenodo, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4327671, 2020. a
Shepherd, T. G.: Storyline approach to the construction of regional climate
change information, P. Roy. Soc A-Math. Phy., 475, 20190013, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2019.0013, 2019. a, b
Shepherd, T. G., Boyd, E., Calel, R. A., Chapman, S. C., Dessai, S., Dima-West, I. M., Fowler, H. J., James, R., Maraun, D., Martius, O., Senior, C. A., Sobel, A. H., Stainforth, D. A., Tett, S. F., Trenberth, K. E., van den Hurk, B. J., Watkins, N. W., Wilby, R. L., and Zenghelis, D. A.: Storylines: an alternative approach to representing uncertainty in physical aspects of climate change, Climatic Change, 151, 555–571,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2317-9, 2018. a
Sturaro, G.: A closer look at the climatological discontinuities present in the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis temperature due to the introduction of satellite
data, Clim. Dynam., 21, 309–316, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-003-0334-4, 2003.
a
Thompson, V., Dunstone, N. J., Scaife, A. A., Smith, D. M., Slingo, J. M.,
Brown, S., and Belcher, S. E.: High risk of unprecedented UK rainfall in
the current climate, Nat. Commun., 8, 1–6, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00275-3, 2017. a
Yiou, P.: AnaWEGE: a weather generator based on analogues of atmospheric circulation, Geosci. Model Dev., 7, 531–543, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-531-2014, 2014. a, b, c, d
Yiou, P. and Nogaj, M.: Extreme climatic events and weather regimes over the
North Atlantic: When and where?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L07202,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL019119, 2004. a
Zscheischler, J., Martius, O., Westra, S., Bevacqua, E., Raymond, C., Horton,
R. M., van den Hurk, B., AghaKouchak, A., Jézéquel, A., Mahecha, M. D., Maraun, D., Ramos, A. M., Ridder, N. N., Thiery, W., and Vignotto, E.: A typology of compound weather and climate events, Nat. Rev. Earth Environ., 1, 333–347, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0060-z, 2020. a
Short summary
In 2016, northern France experienced an unprecedented wheat crop loss. This crop loss was likely due to an extremely warm December 2015 and abnormally high precipitation during the following spring season. Using stochastic weather generators we investigate how severe the metrological conditions leading to the crop loss could be in current climate conditions. We find that December temperatures were close to the plausible maximum but that considerably wetter springs would be possible.
In 2016, northern France experienced an unprecedented wheat crop loss. This crop loss was likely...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint