Abstract

Despite being featured as a very attractive geographical, climatic, and cultural region, the Mediterranean Basin is also frequently affected by high-impact weather. The latter may induce catastrophic consequences with detrimental socio-economic and ecological impacts. Mediterranean cyclones are responsible for a wide range of weather-induced natural hazards affecting a large variety of socio-economic activities. Therefore, there is a growing interest in understanding Mediterranean cyclones and their impacts. This concern involves the scientific community, the stakeholders, and the general public. Many questions are still open calling for extensive research and discussion. Among these, the lack of systematic quantification of cyclones' contribution to Mediterranean socio-economic losses, and efficient and effective communication of information among scientists in different disciplines, stakeholders, and the general public, are complex and currently under-addressed challenges. To contribute to future development beyond the current state of expertise, this work reviews existing knowledge regarding the socio-economic impacts of Mediterranean cyclones with a focus on particularly vulnerable sectors in the region. As a result of this effort, knowledge gaps, as well as the vulnerability of the main societal sectors are identified. The overarching goal of gathering knowledge on the socio-economic impacts of Mediterranean cyclones is to inform decision-makers on the state of the art, thus contributing to the creation of resilient communities in the face of climate change. This is even more relevant in the context of the growing destructiveness inflicted by Mediterranean cyclones, despite their probable lower frequency in future scenarios.