Wind Risk Modeling - The 1999 Martin Storm
Academic ProjectCompleted
An advanced study on wind risk modeling and meteorological hazard assessment, focusing on the historical Martin Storm of December 1999. Combines data analysis, statistical modeling, and GIS mapping to quantify natural disaster impacts.
February 17, 2026 5 min read
MeteorologyRisk AssessmentData AnalysisClimate ScienceGISStatistics
Overview
This project is a detailed study of wind risk assessment and modeling in the context of natural disasters, using the December 1999 Martin Storm as a case study. The analysis combines statistical methods, meteorological data, and spatial analysis techniques to understand and quantify the impacts of extreme wind events.
Objectives
The primary objectives of this research were:
- Characterize extreme meteorological events and their propagation patterns
- Model wind risk using statistical and probabilistic approaches
- Assess spatial distribution of hazards using GIS mapping techniques
- Quantify economic and environmental impacts of the storm
- Develop predictive models for future risk assessment and disaster preparedness
Methodology
Data Sources
- Historical meteorological records from the 1999 Martin Storm
- Wind speed measurements from weather stations across France
- Satellite imagery and atmospheric pressure data
- Damage assessments and economic loss records
Analytical Techniques
- Time-series analysis of wind speed and atmospheric pressure
- Spatial interpolation using kriging and other geostatistical methods
- Probability distribution fitting (Weibull, Gumbel, and Log-Normal distributions)
- Return period estimation for extreme wind events
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for hazard mapping and visualization
Statistical Models
- Extreme Value Theory (EVT) for tail risk analysis
- Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions
- Peak-over-threshold (POT) methods
- Spatial correlation analysis
Key Findings
The analysis revealed:
- Wind speeds exceeding 100 km/h across multiple regions
- Non-uniform spatial distribution of damage intensity
- Correlation patterns between meteorological variables and structural damage
- Seasonal and geographical risk variations
- Return period estimations for comparable extreme events
Applications
The methodologies developed in this project have applications in:
- Disaster risk reduction and preparedness planning
- Insurance and risk assessment for natural hazards
- Urban planning and infrastructure resilience
- Climate adaptation strategies
- Early warning systems for extreme weather events