The study of the statistics of extreme events is an essential first step in the mitigation of natural catastrophies, that often cause severe economic losses worldwide. This book is about the theoretical and practical aspects of the statistics of Extreme Events in Nature.
Most importantly, this is the first text in which Copulas are introduced and used in Geophysics.
Several topics are fully original, and show how standard models and calculations can be improved by exploiting the opportunities offered by Copulas. In addition, new quantities useful for design and risk assessment are introduced. Practicioners in all research areas of Geosciences and extreme events (including Finance and Insurance, closely related to natural disasters) will definitely benefit from the new Copula-approach outlined in the book.
Audience
This volume will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in the fields of civil and environmental engineering, geophysics, geosciences, geography and environmental science. Also scientists and undergraduate up to post graduate level students in water resources and hydrology will find valuable information in this book.
The study of the statistics of extreme events is an essential first step in the mitigation of natural catastrophies. This book reviews the theoretical and practical aspects of the statistics of extreme events in nature. Topics range from high and low flows, to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, land slides, avalanches, windstorms, extreme sea levels and high waves, forest fires and other disasters that threaten lives and properties and often cause severe economic losses worldwide. In many applications it is important to consider extreme events in a bivariate or multivariate context. Copulas exactly describe and model the dependence structure between random variables independently of the marginal laws involved. This approach simplifies the analysis of phenomena involved and makes it possible to introduce new parameters for the characterization of the extreme behaviour of a system.
Gianfausto Salvadori
SAS Simulation calculus digital elevation model extreme events extreme value copulas geophysics multivariate copulas multivariate extreme value distribution natural hazards statistics
From the reviews:
"This monograph deals with both theoretical and practical aspects of the mathematical theory of extremes. ... The book surely will be interesting and useful to researchers and practitioners in the areas of geophysics and environmental sciences and engineering. It can be also useful to any one interested in having a rigorous summary of the main results and modern developments of the theory of extreme events in the context of physical applications." (Jaume Masoliver, Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 134, 2009)