System-level Auditing of Hydrometeorological Vulnerabilities in the SE US

We approach hydrometeorological extremes not as isolated events, but rather in the context of hydroclimatic regimes of SE landscapes, and examine current and future vulnerabilities of freshwater resources and landscapes (land-cover and geophysical hazards) conditional on climate. In particular, we revisit the notion of 'hydrometeorological extremes" from the perspective of runway consequences, tipping points, and environmental resiliency. Results from recent research toward quantifying the relationship between precipitation climatology and basin-scale water budgets and landscape eco-hydrological resiliency in the SE US are presented. Emphasis is placed on the complementary roles of hurricane and tropical storms on the one hand, and light rainfall on the other. The research suggests that vulnerabilities of water systems (natural and man-made) are dynamical, and therefore effective adaptation in a changing climate requires system-level assessments and decision-making. Sustainability of adaptation strategies further requires consideration of coupled human-natural systems. A framework for vulnerability assessment of rapidly urbanizing environments integrating physical, economic and interactive governance models is proposed.