Richard Smith on 100-year-floods

Some rare weather events, like the 100-year-flood, are confusingly named. This is because 100 years refers to a statistical probability and not a guaranteed rate. That, combined with our changing climate, means predicting future weather events can be difficult. Thankfully, we have statistical tools to help us with this problem!

Sadie and Ian speak with Richard Smith about climate change, rare weather events, and how climate modeling works.

Find our transcript here: LINK

Curious to learn more? Check out these additional links:

Learn about the topics covered in IMSI’s fall program, Confronting Global Climate Change: https://www.imsi.institute/activities/confronting-global-climate-change/

Watch Richard’s presentation on detection and attribution for spatial extremes: https://www.imsi.institute/videos/detection-and-attribution-for-spatial-extremes/

Thanks to the Texas Tribune for their reporting on the 2021 winter storm and Hurricane Harvey. Specifically,

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/17/texas-winter-storm-2021-stories/

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/06/tide-high-wading-through-hurricane-harveys-damage-audio/

Follow more of IMSI’s work: www.IMSI.institute, (twitter) @IMSI_institute, (instagram) IMSI.institute

Follow Richard Smith: https://rls.sites.oasis.unc.edu/

This episode was audio engineered by Tyler Damme.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions.