We explore the underlying drivers of disturbance, natural hazards that ensue, and extreme events that have consequences to landscapes, ecosystems, and society.

Extreme droughts, fires, and floods are among the greatest geohazards the U.S. faces each year. Further, these events interact with each other, creating multiplier effects about which the scientific community knows very little. Evidence suggests that the frequency of extremes has increased over recent decades, particularly for climate extremes and large fires, making the ability to predict, and understanding the pattern of coupled extremes imperative. Earth observations from the past three decades now provide sufficient data across temporal and spatial scales to explore questions about how rare, extreme events interact. 

A better understanding of disturbance interactions and how they lead to extreme events will increase our capacity to predict and respond to these events, improving societal resilience and mitigating associated costs.