Research by Prof. Lu and PhD Student Highlighted by Nature

A new study by Prof. Mengqian Lu and her PhD student, Beijing Fang, has been highlighted in the prestigious journal Nature. The research shows that sudden swings between drought/heat and pluvial events (wet periods) in Asia are causing more harm than previously thought, and that climate change is likely to intensify this pattern in the future.

According to Prof. Lu, “Either drought/heat or pluvial already causes adverse impacts on ecosystem and human society. The swing between these extremes could escalate their impact to the next level, far beyond their simple addition. We have found that these compound whiplash events are causing far more damage than we previously realized, and that they are likely to become more frequent in the coming decades as the climate continues to warm.” Prof. Lu adds, “Our hope is that our research will help policymakers and the public better understand the risks associated with climate change and take action to mitigate its effects.”

To learn more about the research, you can read the full paper online at https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022EF003111. And if you are interested in staying informed about climate change and its impacts, consider signing up for the HydroMet Group’s newsletter @https://cemlu.people.ust.hk/ and/or following them on WeChat: