Probable Maximum Losses of Insured Assets From

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Probable Maximum Losses of Insured Assets From PROBABLE MAXIMUM LOSSES OF INSURED ASSETS FROM NATURAL AND MANMADE CATASTROPHES IN AUSTRALIA WILLIAM GARDNER BEc OCTOBER 2006 A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PHD DEGREE IN RESEARCH Declaration I, William Gardner, hereby declare that this thesis has not been submitted for a higher degree to any other university or institution, and to the best of my knowledge, represents my own work, except where due reference is made and acknowledged. October 2006 ii Abstract In a first attempt to quantify the national catastrophe exposure of insured property, this thesis uses a range of models of varying complexity to estimate the Australian industry’s exposure to natural perils. These perils include cyclones, earthquakes, hail, bushfire, flood and severe thunderstorms. The focus is exclusively on the insurance industry and so wider community economic losses are ignored. To achieve this goal, the author first developed a national database of residential and commercial property exposure at the postcode level of resolution. The next major tasks were to develop a stochastic national tropical cyclone loss model, implement a published earthquake model and combine the results of these models with extreme value statistics of losses from other perils. An Australian terrorism loss model developed by the author in the course of this thesis is also presented here to highlight differences between the modelling of man-made perils and those arising from natural hazards; the most notable difference being the difficulty in defining the probability of an attack compared with the return period of natural hazards of varying severity. The key results for natural perils are expressed as Probable Maximum Losses (PML) at given Return Periods and are given in the Table below. Return Period Cyclone Earthquake Other Perils Combined (years) ($m) ($m) ($m) ($m) 1,000 11,945 42,226 5,953 42,551 250 4,699 7,639 3,622 10,530 100 2,164 2,884 2,360 5,421 Probable Maximum Loss by Return Period These numbers can be used by insurers and international reinsurance companies to price catastrophe risk. The thesis quantifies the level of uncertainty in these results and provides commentary on how the information provided can be used by the insurance industry, the government and the public to provide a better understanding of natural peril risk to insured property in Australia. iii Acknowledgements I wish to thank the following people who have contributed to the production of this thesis: • my supervisors over the years: Professors John Pollard, Russell Blong and John McAneney; • my employers: Aon Re Australia, Impact Forecasting LLC and Aon Re Inc.; • along with others who have assisted me in various aspects of the thesis including Dr George Walker, Dr Siamak Daneshvaran, Phil Heckman, Dr Andres Mendez, Dr Pierre Wiart and John Aquino; and • most importantly, my wife Donna and my family who have patiently allowed me to work on and complete this research and document. iv Table of Contents DECLARATION .................................................................................................................... II ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... V CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................1 Catastrophes in Australia .....................................................................................................................................1 Insurance Companies Catastrophe Concerns .....................................................................................................2 Insurance Company Need for Catastrophe Models............................................................................................3 Insurance Regulation in Relation to Catastrophe Models .................................................................................4 Guidelines in the United States.............................................................................................................................5 Objectives of Thesis ...............................................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 - CATASTROPHE MODELS..........................................................................8 Definition ................................................................................................................................................................8 Probable Maximum Loss ......................................................................................................................................9 Model Complexity and Uncertainty ...................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER 3 - EXTREME VALUE ANALYSIS ................................................................13 Methodology.........................................................................................................................................................13 Analysis of Australian Catastrophe Data ..........................................................................................................13 Other Methods of Fit ...........................................................................................................................................15 Distribution of nth Largest Value........................................................................................................................17 Conclusions...........................................................................................................................................................18 CHAPTER 4 - EXPOSURE DATABASE............................................................................20 Overview...............................................................................................................................................................20 Census data...........................................................................................................................................................21 Insurer Data .........................................................................................................................................................24 Average Value ......................................................................................................................................................24 Commercial Risks................................................................................................................................................25 Motor Risks ..........................................................................................................................................................25 Construction Material .........................................................................................................................................26 Building Age.........................................................................................................................................................26 Total Exposure.....................................................................................................................................................28 Proportion Insured ..............................................................................................................................................28 v Data Quality .........................................................................................................................................................28 CHAPTER 5 - CYCLONE MODEL ....................................................................................30 Overview...............................................................................................................................................................30 History of Tropical Cyclone Modelling..............................................................................................................30 Modern Models of Cyclone Risk ........................................................................................................................32 Cyclone Structure ................................................................................................................................................33 General Methodology ..........................................................................................................................................37 CHAPTER 6 – DEVELOPMENT OF A CYCLONE EVENT SET..................................41 Historic Event Database......................................................................................................................................41 Event Start Position Generation.........................................................................................................................43 Starting Central Pressure....................................................................................................................................51 Maximum Potential Intensities...........................................................................................................................54
Recommended publications
  • Wave Data Recording Program
    Wave data recording program Weipa Region 1978–2004 Coastal Sciences data report No. W2004.5 ISSN 1449–7611 Abstract This report provides summaries of primary analysis of wave data recorded in water depths of approximately 5.2m relative to lowest astronomical tide, 10km west of Evans Landing in Albatross Bay, west of Weipa. Data was recorded using a Datawell Waverider buoy, and covers the periods from 22 December, 1978 to 31 January, 2004. The data was divided into seasonal groupings for analysis. No estimations of wave direction data have been provided. This report has been prepared by the EPA’s Coastal Sciences Unit, Environmental Sciences Division. The EPA acknowledges the following team members who contributed their time and effort to the preparation of this report: John Mohoupt; Vince Cunningham; Gary Hart; Jeff Shortell; Daniel Conwell; Colin Newport; Darren Hanis; Martin Hansen; Jim Waldron and Emily Christoffels. Wave data recording program Weipa Region 1978–2004 Disclaimer While reasonable care and attention have been exercised in the collection, processing and compilation of the wave data included in this report, the Coastal Sciences Unit does not guarantee the accuracy and reliability of this information in any way. The Environmental Protection Agency accepts no responsibility for the use of this information in any way. Environmental Protection Agency PO Box 15155 CITY EAST QLD 4002. Copyright Copyright © Queensland Government 2004. Copyright protects this publication. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this report can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without having prior written permission.
    [Show full text]
  • Geography and Archaeology of the Palm Islands and Adjacent Continental Shelf of North Queensland
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following work: O’Keeffe, Mornee Jasmin (1991) Over and under: geography and archaeology of the Palm Islands and adjacent continental shelf of North Queensland. Masters Research thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland. Access to this file is available from: https://doi.org/10.25903/5bd64ed3b88c4 Copyright © 1991 Mornee Jasmin O’Keeffe. If you believe that this work constitutes a copyright infringement, please email [email protected] OVER AND UNDER: Geography and Archaeology of the Palm Islands and Adjacent Continental Shelf of North Queensland Thesis submitted by Mornee Jasmin O'KEEFFE BA (QId) in July 1991 for the Research Degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty of Arts of the James Cook University of North Queensland RECORD OF USE OF THESIS Author of thesis: Title of thesis: Degree awarded: Date: Persons consulting this thesis must sign the following statement: "I have consulted this thesis and I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or in part without the written consent of the author,. and to make proper written acknowledgement for any assistance which ',have obtained from it." NAME ADDRESS SIGNATURE DATE THIS THESIS MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY BUILDING ASD0024 STATEMENT ON ACCESS I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University of North Queensland will make it available for use within the University Library and, by microfilm or other photographic means, allow access to users in other approved libraries. All users consulting this thesis will have to sign the following statement: "In consulting this thesis I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or in part without the written consent of the author; and to make proper written acknowledgement for any assistance which I have obtained from it." Beyond this, I do not wish to place any restriction on access to this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Contextualizing Disaster
    Contextualizing Disaster This open access edition has been made available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Catastrophes in Context Series Editors: Gregory V. Button, former faculty member of University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Mark Schuller, Northern Illinois University / Université d’État d’Haïti Anthony Oliver-Smith, University of Florida Volume ͩ Contextualizing Disaster Edited by Gregory V. Button and Mark Schuller This open access edition has been made available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Contextualizing Disaster Edited by GREGORY V. BUTTON and MARK SCHULLER berghahn N E W Y O R K • O X F O R D www.berghahnbooks.com This open access edition has been made available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. First published in 2016 by Berghahn Books www.berghahnbooks.com ©2016 Gregory V. Button and Mark Schuller Open access ebook edition published in 2019 All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Button, Gregory, editor. | Schuller, Mark, 1973– editor. Title: Contextualizing disaster / edited by Gregory V. Button and Mark Schuller. Description: New York : Berghahn Books, [2016] | Series: Catastrophes in context ; v.
    [Show full text]
  • Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, East Coast, 1858 – 2008 by Mr Jeff Callaghan Retired Senior Severe Weather Forecaster, Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
    ARCHIVE: Known Impacts of Tropical Cyclones, East Coast, 1858 – 2008 By Mr Jeff Callaghan Retired Senior Severe Weather Forecaster, Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane The date of the cyclone refers to the day of landfall or the day of the major impact if it is not a cyclone making landfall from the Coral Sea. The first number after the date is the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) for that month followed by the three month running mean of the SOI centred on that month. This is followed by information on the equatorial eastern Pacific sea surface temperatures where: W means a warm episode i.e. sea surface temperature (SST) was above normal; C means a cool episode and Av means average SST Date Impact January 1858 From the Sydney Morning Herald 26/2/1866: an article featuring a cruise inside the Barrier Reef describes an expedition’s stay at Green Island near Cairns. “The wind throughout our stay was principally from the south-east, but in January we had two or three hard blows from the N to NW with rain; one gale uprooted some of the trees and wrung the heads off others. The sea also rose one night very high, nearly covering the island, leaving but a small spot of about twenty feet square free of water.” Middle to late Feb A tropical cyclone (TC) brought damaging winds and seas to region between Rockhampton and 1863 Hervey Bay. Houses unroofed in several centres with many trees blown down. Ketch driven onto rocks near Rockhampton. Severe erosion along shores of Hervey Bay with 10 metres lost to sea along a 32 km stretch of the coast.
    [Show full text]
  • Port of Abbot Point Ambient Coral Monitoring Program: Report 2017
    Port of Abbot Point Ambient Coral Monitoring Program: Report 2017 NQ Bulk Ports Angus Thompson, Johnston Davidson, Paul Costello AIMS: Australia’s tropical marine research agency Townsville 2018 Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB No 3 PO Box 41775 Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre Townsville MC Qld 4810 Casuarina NT 0811 University of Western Australia, M096 Crawley WA 6009 This report should be cited as: Thompson A, Costello P, Davidson J (2018) Port of Abbot Point Ambient Monitoring Program: Report 2017. Report prepared for North Queensland Bulk Ports. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville. (39 pp) © Copyright: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) 2018 All rights are reserved and no part of this document may be reproduced, stored or copied in any form or by any means whatsoever except with the prior written permission of AIMS DISCLAIMER While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this document are factually correct, AIMS does not make any representation or give any warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose of the information or statements contained in this document. To the extent permitted by law AIMS shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of or reliance on the contents of this document. Vendor shall ensure that documents have been fully checked and approved prior to submittal to client Revision History: Name Date Comments Prepared by: Angus Thompson 24/01/2018 1 Approved by: Britta Schaffelke 24/01/2018 2 Cover photo: Corals at Camp West in May 2017 i Port of Abbot Point Ambient Coral Monitoring 2017 CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Extreme Natural Events and Effects on Tourism: Central Eastern Coast of Australia
    EXTREME NATURAL EVENTS AND EFFECTS ON TOURISM Central Eastern Coast of Australia Alison Specht Central Eastern Coast of Australia Technical Reports The technical report series present data and its analysis, meta-studies and conceptual studies, and are considered to be of value to industry, government and researchers. Unlike the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre’s Monograph series, these reports have not been subjected to an external peer review process. As such, the scientific accuracy and merit of the research reported here is the responsibility of the authors, who should be contacted for clarification of any content. Author contact details are at the back of this report. National Library of Australia Cataloguing in Publication Data Specht, Alison. Extreme natural events and effects on tourism [electronic resource]: central eastern coast of Australia. Bibliography. ISBN 9781920965907. 1. Natural disasters—New South Wales. 2. Natural disasters—Queensland, South-eastern. 3. Tourism—New South Wales—North Coast. 4. Tourism—Queensland, South-eastern. 5. Climatic changes—New South Wales— North Coast. 6. Climatic changes—Queensland, South-eastern. 7. Climatic changes—Economic aspects—New South Wales—North Coast. 8. Climatic changes—Economic aspects—Queensland, South-eastern. 632.10994 Copyright © CRC for Sustainable Tourism Pty Ltd 2008 All rights reserved. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the publisher. Any enquiries should be directed to: General Manager Communications and Industry Extension, Amber Brown, [[email protected]] or Publishing Manager, Brooke Pickering [[email protected]].
    [Show full text]
  • PRC.15.1.1 a Publication of AXA XL Risk Consulting
    Property Risk Consulting Guidelines PRC.15.1.1 A Publication of AXA XL Risk Consulting WINDSTORMS INTRODUCTION A variety of windstorms occur throughout the world on a frequent basis. Although most winds are related to exchanges of energy (heat) between different air masses, there are a number of weather mechanisms that are involved in wind generation. These depend on latitude, altitude, topography and other factors. The different mechanisms produce windstorms with various characteristics. Some affect wide geographical areas, while others are local in nature. Some storms produce cooling effects, whereas others rapidly increase the ambient temperatures in affected areas. Tropical cyclones born over the oceans, tornadoes in the mid-west and the Santa Ana winds of Southern California are examples of widely different windstorms. The following is a short description of some of the more prevalent wind phenomena. A glossary of terms associated with windstorms is provided in PRC.15.1.1.A. The Beaufort Wind Scale, the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Cyclone Severity Scale and the Fugita Tornado Scale are also provided in PRC.15.1.1.A. Types Of Windstorms Local Windstorms A variety of wind conditions are brought about by local factors, some of which can generate relatively high wind conditions. While they do not have the extreme high winds of tropical cyclones and tornadoes, they can cause considerable property damage. Many of these local conditions tend to be seasonal. Cold weather storms along the East coast are known as Nor’easters or Northeasters. While their winds are usually less than hurricane velocity, they may create as much or more damage.
    [Show full text]
  • A Diagnostic Study of the Intensity of Three Tropical Cyclones in the Australian Region
    22 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW VOLUME 138 A Diagnostic Study of the Intensity of Three Tropical Cyclones in the Australian Region. Part II: An Analytic Method for Determining the Time Variation of the Intensity of a Tropical Cyclone* FRANCE LAJOIE AND KEVIN WALSH School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (Manuscript received 20 November 2008, in final form 14 May 2009) ABSTRACT The observed features discussed in Part I of this paper, regarding the intensification and dissipation of Tropical Cyclone Kathy, have been integrated in a simple mathematical model that can produce a reliable 15– 30-h forecast of (i) the central surface pressure of a tropical cyclone, (ii) the sustained maximum surface wind and gust around the cyclone, (iii) the radial distribution of the sustained mean surface wind along different directions, and (iv) the time variation of the three intensity parameters previously mentioned. For three tropical cyclones in the Australian region that have some reliable ground truth data, the computed central surface pressure, the predicted maximum mean surface wind, and maximum gust were, respectively, within 63 hPa and 62ms21 of the observations. Since the model is only based on the circulation in the boundary layer and on the variation of the cloud structure in and around the cyclone, its accuracy strongly suggests that (i) the maximum wind is partly dependent on the large-scale environmental circulation within the boundary layer and partly on the size of the radius of maximum wind and (ii) that all factors that contribute one way or another to the intensity of a tropical cyclone act together to control the size of the eye radius and the central surface pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Developing Impact-Based Thresholds for Coastal Inundation from Tide Gauge Observations
    CSIRO PUBLISHING Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science, 2019, 69, 252–272 https://doi.org/10.1071/ES19024 Developing impact-based thresholds for coastal inundation from tide gauge observations Ben S. HagueA,B,C, Bradley F. MurphyA, David A. JonesA and Andy J. TaylorA ABureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 1289, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia. BSchool of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia. CCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. This study presents the first assessment of the observed frequency of the impacts of high sea levels at locations along Australia’s northern coastline. We used a new methodology to systematically define impact-based thresholds for coastal tide gauges, utilising reports of coastal inundation from diverse sources. This method permitted a holistic consideration of impact-producing relative sea-level extremes without attributing physical causes. Impact-based thresh- olds may also provide a basis for the development of meaningful coastal flood warnings, forecasts and monitoring in the future. These services will become increasingly important as sea-level rise continues.The frequency of high sea-level events leading to coastal flooding increased at all 21 locations where impact-based thresholds were defined. Although we did not undertake a formal attribution, this increase was consistent with the well-documented rise in global sea levels. Notably, tide gauges from the south coast of Queensland showed that frequent coastal inundation was already occurring. At Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, impact-based thresholds were being exceeded on average 21.6 and 24.3 h per year respectively. In the case of Brisbane, the number of hours of inundation annually has increased fourfold since 1977.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
    Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION Trevor Jones Geoscience Australia 1.1 Cities Project Perth Cities Project Perth is a natural hazard risk assessment study of the city of Perth by Geoscience Australia (GA) and its Federal, State and Local collaborators. Cities Project Perth has produced authoritative knowledge on the risks from sudden-onset natural hazards in Australia’s fourth largest city and the capital of the state of Western Australia (WA). Cities Project Perth is the most recent multi-hazard risk assessment undertaken by GA and collaborating agencies (notably the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and local governments), following earlier studies of the Queensland cities of Cairns (Granger et al., 1999), Mackay (Middelmann and Granger, editors, 2000), Gladstone (Granger and Michael-Leiba, editors, 2001) and South-East Queensland (Granger and Hayne, editors, 2001). GA also published the single- hazard report Earthquake Risk in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, New South Wales (Dhu and Jones, editors, 2002). This study is aimed at estimating the impact on the Perth community of several sudden-onset natural hazards. The natural hazards considered are both meteorological and terrestrial in origin. The hazards investigated most comprehensively are riverine floods in the Swan and Canning Rivers, severe winds in metropolitan Perth, and earthquakes in the Perth region. Some socioeconomic factors affecting the capacity of the citizens of Perth to recover from natural disaster events have been analysed and the WA data compared with data from other Australian states. Additionally, new estimates of earthquake hazard have been made in a zone of radius around 200 km from Perth, extending east into the central Wheatbelt.
    [Show full text]
  • Port Related Structures on the Coast of Western Australia
    Port Related Structures on the Coast of Western Australia By: D.A. Cumming, D. Garratt, M. McCarthy, A. WoICe With <.:unlribuliuns from Albany Seniur High Schoul. M. Anderson. R. Howard. C.A. Miller and P. Worsley Octobel' 1995 @WAUUSEUM Report: Department of Matitime Archaeology, Westem Australian Maritime Museum. No, 98. Cover pholograph: A view of Halllelin Bay in iL~ heyday as a limber porl. (W A Marilime Museum) This study is dedicated to the memory of Denis Arthur Cuml11ing 1923-1995 This project was funded under the National Estate Program, a Commonwealth-financed grants scheme administered by the Australian HeriL:'lge Commission (Federal Government) and the Heritage Council of Western Australia. (State Govenlluent). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Heritage Council of Western Australia Mr lan Baxter (Director) Mr Geny MacGill Ms Jenni Williams Ms Sharon McKerrow Dr Lenore Layman The Institution of Engineers, Australia Mr Max Anderson Mr Richard Hartley Mr Bmce James Mr Tony Moulds Mrs Dorothy Austen-Smith The State Archive of Westem Australia Mr David Whitford The Esperance Bay HistOIical Society Mrs Olive Tamlin Mr Merv Andre Mr Peter Anderson of Esperance Mr Peter Hudson of Esperance The Augusta HistOIical Society Mr Steve Mm'shall of Augusta The Busselton HistOlical Societv Mrs Elizabeth Nelson Mr Alfred Reynolds of Dunsborough Mr Philip Overton of Busselton Mr Rupert Genitsen The Bunbury Timber Jetty Preservation Society inc. Mrs B. Manea The Bunbury HistOlical Society The Rockingham Historical Society The Geraldton Historical Society Mrs J Trautman Mrs D Benzie Mrs Glenis Thomas Mr Peter W orsley of Gerald ton The Onslow Goods Shed Museum Mr lan Blair Mr Les Butcher Ms Gaye Nay ton The Roebourne Historical Society.
    [Show full text]
  • 28 June 1994
    2341 ?Utgxutatwcp Qlorw Tuesday, 28 June 1994 THE PRESIDENT (Hon Clive Griffiths) took the Chair at 3.30 pm, and read prayers. STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION .ADDRESS-IN- REPLY Presentationto Governor - Non-attendance of OppositionMembers HON JOHN HALDEN (South Metropolitan - Leader of the Opposition) [3.31 pmil - by leave: The Opposition will be declining the offer to attend upon His Excellency on this occasion to present the Address-in-Reply speech. Last week's events clearly demonstrate why the Opposition has taken this action. I do not believe it will be of interest to the House to debate this matter again. BILLS (7) - ASSENT Messages from the Lieutenant Governor received and read notifying assent to the following Bills - 1. Secondary Education Authority Amendment Bill 2. Fisheries Amendment Bill 3. Pearling Amendment Bill 4. Totalisator Agency Board Betting Amendment Bill 5. State Bank of South Australia (Transfer of Undertaking) Bill 6. Fire Brigades Superannuation Amendment Bill 7. Local Government Amendment Bill PETITION - LOGGING OF HESTER STATE FOREST Departmentof Conservation and Land Management Proposal HON J.A. SCOTT (South Metropolitan) [3.35 pm]: I present the following petition signed by 13 citizens of Western Australia - To the Honourable the President and Members of the Legislative Council in Parliament assembled. We the undersigned, are very concerned at the management practices of the Department of Conservation and Land Management in the Bridgetown- Greenbushes Shire. We request the Legislative Council to
    [Show full text]