The Climate Extremes and Impacts Lab

Welcome to the Climate Extremes and Impacts Group in the School of the Environment at Washington State University. We research the causes and impacts of extreme weather events that are affecting communities around the world. Our work aims to inform infrastructure design, policy, and governance towards building communities that are more resilient to climate variability and change. 

Specifically, we aim to understand the physical mechanisms of extremes such as heatwaves, droughts, heavy precipitation, and wildfires. We also study compound events – extremes affecting simultaneously or back-to-back – that have the potential for amplifying impacts. Further, we examine the risks they pose to the health, well-being, and resources of communities, and how communities are adapting to their changing environment. We employ a variety of tools including ground and satellite-based observations, climate models, household surveys, and socio-economic data. Our research spans a range of spatial scales, with an emphasis of advancing knowledge in underserved and frontline communities.