Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020
Based on the Yearbook of Meteorological Disasters in China, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in major meteorological disaster (MD) losses at the provincial scale during 2001–2020 to determine the spatiotemporal variations in MDs and vulnerability in China. Our results suggest that the impac...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.789523/full |
| _version_ | 1819241048636915712 |
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| author | Ying Li Shanshan Zhao Shanshan Zhao Guofu Wang |
| author_facet | Ying Li Shanshan Zhao Shanshan Zhao Guofu Wang |
| author_sort | Ying Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on the Yearbook of Meteorological Disasters in China, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in major meteorological disaster (MD) losses at the provincial scale during 2001–2020 to determine the spatiotemporal variations in MDs and vulnerability in China. Our results suggest that the impacts of MDs, including floods, droughts, hail and strong winds (HSs), low temperature and frosts (LTFs), and typhoons, have been substantial in China. MDs in China affect an average of 316.3 million people and 34.3 million hectares of crops each year, causing 1,739 deaths and costing 372.3 billion yuan in direct economic losses (DELs). Floods and droughts affected more of the population in China than the other MDs. Fatalities and DELs were mainly caused by floods, and the affected crop area was mainly impacted by drought. The national average MD losses decreased significantly, except for DELs. The trends in the affected population and crop area were mainly caused by droughts, and the trends in fatalities and DELs were dominated by floods. Floods and typhoons showed increasing influence in the last two decades relative to other disasters. The annual mean and long-term trends in MD losses exhibited regional heterogeneity and were subject to different dominant hazards in different regions. The disaster losses and their trends in southeastern China were mainly attributed to typhoons. The affected population, crop area, and DELs were all significantly and positively correlated with exposure. The vulnerability of the population, crops, and economy tended to decrease. Economic development reduced the vulnerability of the population and economy but showed no significant influence on the vulnerability of crops. Our findings suggest that more focus should be placed on the impacts of floods and typhoons and that socioeconomic development has an important influence on the vulnerability of the population and economy. These results provide a foundation for designing effective disaster prevention and mitigation measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:17:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-052d4b165472465f8adb5837b8f20575 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:17:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-052d4b165472465f8adb5837b8f205752022-12-21T17:43:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-12-01910.3389/feart.2021.789523789523Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020Ying Li0Shanshan Zhao1Shanshan Zhao2Guofu Wang3Laboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, ChinaLaboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, ChinaLaboratory for Climate Studies, National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, ChinaBased on the Yearbook of Meteorological Disasters in China, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in major meteorological disaster (MD) losses at the provincial scale during 2001–2020 to determine the spatiotemporal variations in MDs and vulnerability in China. Our results suggest that the impacts of MDs, including floods, droughts, hail and strong winds (HSs), low temperature and frosts (LTFs), and typhoons, have been substantial in China. MDs in China affect an average of 316.3 million people and 34.3 million hectares of crops each year, causing 1,739 deaths and costing 372.3 billion yuan in direct economic losses (DELs). Floods and droughts affected more of the population in China than the other MDs. Fatalities and DELs were mainly caused by floods, and the affected crop area was mainly impacted by drought. The national average MD losses decreased significantly, except for DELs. The trends in the affected population and crop area were mainly caused by droughts, and the trends in fatalities and DELs were dominated by floods. Floods and typhoons showed increasing influence in the last two decades relative to other disasters. The annual mean and long-term trends in MD losses exhibited regional heterogeneity and were subject to different dominant hazards in different regions. The disaster losses and their trends in southeastern China were mainly attributed to typhoons. The affected population, crop area, and DELs were all significantly and positively correlated with exposure. The vulnerability of the population, crops, and economy tended to decrease. Economic development reduced the vulnerability of the population and economy but showed no significant influence on the vulnerability of crops. Our findings suggest that more focus should be placed on the impacts of floods and typhoons and that socioeconomic development has an important influence on the vulnerability of the population and economy. These results provide a foundation for designing effective disaster prevention and mitigation measures.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.789523/fullmeteorological disasterdisaster lossesvulnerabilityeconomic developmentspatiotemporal variations |
| spellingShingle | Ying Li Shanshan Zhao Shanshan Zhao Guofu Wang Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 Frontiers in Earth Science meteorological disaster disaster losses vulnerability economic development spatiotemporal variations |
| title | Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 |
| title_full | Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 |
| title_fullStr | Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 |
| title_short | Spatiotemporal Variations in Meteorological Disasters and Vulnerability in China During 2001–2020 |
| title_sort | spatiotemporal variations in meteorological disasters and vulnerability in china during 2001 2020 |
| topic | meteorological disaster disaster losses vulnerability economic development spatiotemporal variations |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.789523/full |
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