MEDIterranean hydroclimatic extremes and RISK adapation through multiproxy reconstructions (MEDYRISK)

Abstract

The MEDYRISK project addresses a critical challenge in Mediterranean climate science: understanding the long-term variability and recurrence of compound extreme events, particularly sequences of prolonged droughts followed by flash floods. The research focuses on the western Mediterranean corridor, from Catalonia through the Iberian Range to Murcia, a region highly vulnerable due to its semi-arid climate, complex terrain, and high socio-economic exposure.

MEDYRISK combines two complementary natural archives: tree-ring records from living trees and historical deadwood, which provide high-resolution reconstructions of past droughts, and fluvial sedimentary archives that document the frequency and magnitude of past flood events. By integrating these proxies, the project reconstructs the evolution of compound extremes over the last millennium, identifies critical thresholds and return periods, and assesses how their intensity and frequency have changed under recent climate warming.

The results provide valuable knowledge to support risk assessment and climate adaptation planning in one of Europe’s most climate-sensitive regions.

Partners