CAREER: A Statistical Tool to Integrate the Magnitudes and Times of Occurrence of Extreme Events with Application in Hazards Planning and Management

NSF Award Search · 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $549,922 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Every year, natural disasters triggered by hydrological extremes such as floods and drought cause significant loss of life and property damage in the U.S. A shift has been observed in the magnitude and timing of these extreme events. This CAREER project will use a combination of statistical analysis and hydrologic modeling to investigate the underlying reasons for this shift. The project will use the results of the analysis to develop innovative tools for identifying hazards and managing them. Open-source software for data analysis will be made available to hydrologists and water resource scientists. The project outcomes will help mitigate hazards and improve communities’ resilience. The project will support an outreach program for K-12 students and the public to learn about disaster risks and mitigation. The team will also develop short courses for extension agents who work with farmers and communities. A discernible shift in the magnitude and time of occurrence of hydrological extremes has been observed. Classical extreme value analysis, which assumes that the distribution from which the extremes have been drawn and its parameters must remain constant in time, is no longer applicable. From an operational standpoint, there is a need to understand what is driving the change in hydrologic extremes. This project will (i) quantify the historic and predicted shifts in the magnitude and timing of extremes; (ii) identify the direction of change, and (ii) determine the mechanisms generating the change. The project will develop Innovative tools to integrate this information into risk assessment frameworks. Project outcomes will provide valuable insights that can be incorporated into hazards planning and management, decision-making processes, and the formulation of science-based policies. This research will be integrated with an educational program to empower the next generation of a globally competitive STEM workforce. Through teaching, mentoring, and outreach acti

Key facts

NSF award ID
2543592
Awardee
Clemson University (SC)
SAM.gov UEI
H2BMNX7DSKU8
PI
Chundun P Khedun
Primary program
01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
Estimated total
$549,922
Funds obligated
$549,922
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
08/15/2026 → 07/31/2031