Page - 30 - in ExtremA 2019 - Aktueller Wissensstand zu Extremereignissen alpiner Naturgefahren in Österreich

© 2020, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783847110927 – ISBN E-Lib: 9783737010924 forschendeExpert*innendokumentiertendenStateof theArt inBezugauf ihre Fachgebiete. Die begutachteten Einzelberichte ergeben in Summe eine solide, verständliche und leicht zugängliche Fachinformation, die als wertvolles Werkzeug fürEntscheidungsträger*innendienensoll. Extreme events of natural hazards are difficult to define, but even harder to predict and tomanage. Similarly, it is challenging to evaluate their potential respective consequences for society. Extreme events differ substantially from average events of the same type, and are characterized by irregular and long returnperiods.Theyoften consist in complexprocess interactions and lackof awareness, experience and data. The causes of extreme events are seen in the consequencesofclimatechange,aswellas inthe increasingexposureofsociety and the intensiveuseof hazard-proneareas.Naturalhazardsbecomeasincere societalchallengewhentheyevolveintonaturaldisastersandaffectapotentially largenumberofpeople, economicandproperty assets aswell as critical infra- structure – especially in exposed regions such as the Alpine region. Indeed, extremeevents areoftendefined throughtheir impactonsociety. A solid documentation of past extreme events is an important basis for managing therisksofpossible extremeevents inthe future.Theoverall goalof theExtremA2019project is thecorrespondingdocumentationfor theAustrian Alps. Itwas launchedby theAustrianFederalMinistryofAgriculture,Regions andTourism(former:AustrianFederalMinistryofSustainabilityandTourism) incooperationwith theworkinggroupENGAGE–Geomorphological Systems and Risk Research of the ViennaUniversity’s Department of Geography and Regional Research. The project focuses on extreme events of common alpine naturalhazards,butalsomorewidespreadphenomenasuchas soil erosionare addressed, which are currently not in the focus within an »extreme-event« context. In addition, socio-economic challenges related to extreme events and possible riskmanagement strategies are considered. Leading national and in- ternational experts with an Austria-related research record compiled in- formationforeventdocumentationand stateof theart reportsontheir specific fields of expertise. The reviewed individual reports provide in total a robust, clear and easily accessible information, which is a valuable tool for decision makers taskedwith the design of appropriate riskmanagement practices in a constantlychangingworld. Zusammenfassung/Abstract30 Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY-NC-ND 4.0