As extreme weather grows more costly in Canada, new lab seeks to understand the science and risk of storms
A new research lab at the University of Waterloo aims to improve the modelling and prediction of severe weather in Canada, as extreme weather events become increasingly costly and frequent.
The Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) will bring together scientists from diverse backgrounds, including atmospheric science, computer science, economics and social science, to develop a better understanding of the science of extreme weather.
The lab will also work with partners from government, industry and the non-profit sector to develop new tools and technologies to help communities prepare for and adapt to extreme weather events.
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and costly in Canada. In the past decade, Canada has experienced several major weather events, including the 2013 Alberta floods, the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and the 2018 heat wave in Quebec.
These events have caused billions of dollars in damage and have resulted in the loss of life. The new research lab will help improve our understanding of the science of extreme weather and develop new tools and technologies to help communities prepare and adapt to these events.
The IC3 will focus on four main areas of research:
- Improving the prediction of extreme weather events.
- Understanding the physical processes that drive extreme weather events.
- Developing new technologies to help communities prepare for and adapt to extreme weather events.
- Communicating the science of extreme weather to the public and policymakers
The lab will be led by Dr. Blair Feltmate, a professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Feltmate is a leading expert on climate change and extreme weather. He has served as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and is a member of the Royal Society of Canada.
The IC3 is a major investment in climate change research in Canada. The lab will help improve our understanding of the science of extreme weather and develop new tools and technologies to help communities prepare for and adapt to these events.
