Tsunami. The events of 2003 and 2011 transformed perceptions of tsunami risk, a peril which had not received detailed assessment by the insurance sector. The WRN tsunami risk programme, incorporating a global team of institutions, is unique in combining a global and regional inundation mapping programme with groundbreaking research on tsunami vulnerability functions for buildings and assets.
WRN members have undertaken localised volcanic risk modelling for many years but the widespread impacts of the Icelandic ash cloud event in 2010 on air travel throughout Northwest Europe raised the priority of understanding the scope, scale and likelihood of major events across the world. WRN members are collaborating on major research projects to integrate volcanic risk into mainstream insurance and disaster risk management systems.
A hybrid peril based on climate and geology, subsidence risk presents major challenges of accumulation as and many properties enter high risk conditions simultaneously. Climate change impacts present particular concerns and uncertainties on future levels subsidence. The WRN is undertaking regional programmes to develop robust subsidence methodologies to form the basis of global risk indices and models.
Another hybrid peril based on climate, vegetation and land-use wildfire risk is acutely affected by critical thresholds in temperature and precipitation. The WRN is undertaking regional programmes to develop wildfire risk methodologies, methods and tools to inform risk management and forecasting systems.
Perhaps the ultimate hybrid peril, dirven by geological, climatic and often seismic influences landslide presents concerns in selected urban and high risk locations, transportation arteries and river/dam systems. The correlation of landslide losses with major rainfall and earthquake events amplifies and impact of these primary perils. WRN landslide research incorporates landslide mechanics, localised risk assessment and global scale mapping and risk analysis.
Date: Apr 18, 2013 | Type: Article |
Ext. Link: Click Here ›
Pillar: Natural Hazard & Risk
Hub: Other Perils
Authors: Rob Parker and Dave Petley
Fields: Landslide
Summary: The Mw = 7.8 earthquake in early April in Iran was the largest event in that country for about 50 years. Fortunately, the depth of the earthquake (82 km) and the low population density in the affected areas meant that loss of life was low for an event of this size
Date: Oct 19, 2009 | Type: Paper | Attachment: Download File ›
Pillar: Natural Hazard & Risk
Hub: Other Perils
Authors: Robin Spence
Fields: General
Summary: This paper, authored by Prof Robin Spence of Cambridge Architectural Research Limited, Prof Giulio Zuccaro, Scientific Director, Plinius Centre, University of Naples Federico II and Dr Rashmin Gunasekera, of Willis Analytics, provides a detailed review of risk from Vesuvius and proposes a new risk ranking of European volcanoes, with a focus on insurance risk potential.
Date: Nov 09, 2008 | Type: Paper | Attachment: Download File ›
Pillar: Natural Hazard & Risk
Hub: Other Perils
Authors: Anna Olsen
and Keith Porter.
Fields: Exposure & Vulnerability
Summary: This state-of-the-art review summarises the research into demand surge thus far and summarises plans for a future quantitive model
Date: Oct 08, 2008 | Type: Paper |
Pillar: Natural Hazard & Risk
Hub: Other Perils
Authors: Keiko Saito
and Robin Spence. Ilan Kelman, Jason Palmer, Marla Petal
Fields: Seismic
Summary: The 26 December 2004 tsunamis around the Indian Ocean exposed the vulnerability of many coastal communities, including those serving tourists. To draw conclusions regarding disaster risk reduction for tourism in coastal areas, this study surveyed international tourists who survived the tsunami regarding their perceptions and experiences of the disaster.
Date: Nov 08, 2007 | Type: Presentation |
Pillar: Natural Hazard & Risk
Hub: Other Perils
Authors: Matthew Foote, Research Director, Willis Research Network
Fields: Emerging Risk
Summary: A presentation given to IEA Future of General Insurance delegates surrounding risk understanding