Green Hour: “Compound Atmospheric extreme Events” (Prof. Dr. Elke Hertig)

The study and analysis of meteorological and climatological extreme events has a long history due to their significance and not seldom devastating impacts on human lives and livelihoods. During the last decade research concerning so called compound events has received more attention in the scientific community, as through the combination of weather or climate events their impacts may be far beyond their individual effects and therefore a better understanding of such phenomena is of great importance.

In this talk I will present insights into compound heat and air pollution events. I will explain why they can occur simultaneously, what consequences arise for human health and how we can protect our health.

Elke Hertig works at the intersection of health science and the environment and holds the chair for Regional Climate Change and Health at the University of Augsburg. A geographer and climatologist by training, she has expanded her research to include the health impacts of climatic factors (e.g. heat, ozone pollution) under current and future climate change. In a further research focus, she is concerned with the topic of climate and environmental factors of vector-borne diseases, i.e., the propagation of diseases spread by pathogen-carrying mosquitos.