Examining population bias relative to severe thunderstorm hazard reporting trends in the A tlanta, GA metropolitan region

Historic severe thunderstorm hazard reports consist of spatial and temporal disparities in reporting frequencies, which are attributed partially to changes in assessment and reporting techniques witnessed throughout the U.S . over the years. Population bias, however, has been cited as a key underlying factor creating inhomogeneities in severe weather reporting frequencies in the past. Given the nature of the historic population distribution patterns found throughout the A tlanta, GA metropolitan region, this location serves as a focus to determine potential statistical associations that may exist between population numbers and historic severe weather hazard reporting frequencies. To address this potential association, statistical one‐way ANOVA , post‐hoc and correlation tests are conducted for this study. Results indicate that A tlanta‐area severe wind and hail reporting frequency patterns display some significant associations with respect to the region's historic population patterns. Tornado reporting frequencies conversely display the weakest statistical associations, and are least affected by the area's human settlement patterns since 1960.