Editorial: Extreme Hydro-Meteorological Events in a Changing Climate: Monitoring, Risk Assessment, and Early Warning

Tong Jiang¹Zbigniew Kundzewicz²Buda Su³Miaoni Gao^3*Jianqing Zhai⁴Yingjie Liu⁴Heike Hartmann⁵

• ¹Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing, China
• ²Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
• ³Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
• ⁴China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
• ⁵Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, United States

(EWSs). Some papers are devoted to specific types of hydro-meteorological extremes, such as droughts (one paper 3 ), heavy precipitation and floods (three papers 4,6,7 ), and typhoons (one paper 5 ).In a paper addressing multi-hazard warning 1 , a prioritization algorithm is proposed that aids in managing queue systems. Another paper 8 examines factors affecting the willingness to use meteorological information and predictions to reduce agro-meteorological hazards. In a further study 2 , a delivery strategy tree for issuing warnings to decision makers is established, based on the warning efficiency index and the reminder strength of delivery means.A study on the effects of anthropogenic climate change on meteorological drought in China 3 helps formulate more effective strategies for managing meteorological drought risks. This study used both observational data and counterfactual climate data (i.e., detrended observations), for the time interval 1960-2019. The results show a complex pattern, being period and region specific, with climate variability playing a role.One can argue that global climate change has intensified the water cycle. More frequent extreme precipitation events pose a significant threat to railway infrastructure and safety operations 4 . The study examines past (observed) and future (projected) precipitation changes in China. Compared to the 20 th century, all projections indicate that the total annual heavy precipitation hours, railway inspections, total of imposing speed limit, and closure risk hours are likely to increase on the national scale.Vulnerability of settlements to floods is examined in a case study from Pakistan 7 , where millions of people are annually affected by floods and where changes in monsoon precipitation play a role. Four indicators used in the study read: population density, land average gross domestic product, distance between settlements and rivers, as well as land use and land cover. The findings include maps and information for stakeholders to support effective vulnerability management in the study area.The effectiveness of Rural Loudspeaker Systems (RLS) and Typhoon Warning Signals (TWS) is discussed 5 . It is found that increased RLS coverage is associated with a reduction in injuries and casualties. RLSs are indeed an important dissemination tool to inform individuals in the countryside and to guide their behavior during typhoon events.Finally, the relationship between flood deposits, rainfall and flooding in the Loess Plateau of China over the last 50 years is studied 7 . This research aims to read the archives of the Earth system, deciphering the past from proxy information.