Warming of 0.5 °C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China

<p>Based on future scenario data and an improved quantitative natural-disaster risk assessment model, in this study, we analysed the response of the characteristics of flood events in China to 1.5 and 2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of glob...

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Main Authors: L. Liu, J. Gao, S. Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-05-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/22/1577/2022/nhess-22-1577-2022.pdf
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author L. Liu
J. Gao
S. Wu
S. Wu
author_facet L. Liu
J. Gao
S. Wu
S. Wu
author_sort L. Liu
collection DOAJ
description <p>Based on future scenario data and an improved quantitative natural-disaster risk assessment model, in this study, we analysed the response of the characteristics of flood events in China to 1.5 and 2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, quantitatively assessed the population affected and the economic risks of floods, and determined the integrated risk levels. The results indicate that, for the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathway) and RCP8.5 scenarios, the probability and distribution area of the floods increase with increasing temperature and the influence range of the floods of different levels expands more rapidly under the RCP4.5 scenario. The floods mainly affect the social economy in the regions with lower altitudes and smaller slopes in eastern China. As the increase in temperature intensifies, the population affected and the direct economic losses are aggravated. For 2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, under the RCP8.5 scenario, the population affected by floods increases by 2 million, and the economic risk nearly doubles compared with 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming. The economic risk under the RCP4.5 scenario even reaches 3 times that for 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, but its proportion to the gross domestic product (GDP) is lower than that under the RCP8.5 scenario. Under both scenarios, the ranges of the zones of medium–high flood risk gradually expand westward and northward.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-e1de997633814f31b8d97b2966250f6a2022-12-22T02:53:28ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812022-05-01221577159010.5194/nhess-22-1577-2022Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in ChinaL. Liu0J. Gao1S. Wu2S. Wu3Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China<p>Based on future scenario data and an improved quantitative natural-disaster risk assessment model, in this study, we analysed the response of the characteristics of flood events in China to 1.5 and 2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, quantitatively assessed the population affected and the economic risks of floods, and determined the integrated risk levels. The results indicate that, for the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathway) and RCP8.5 scenarios, the probability and distribution area of the floods increase with increasing temperature and the influence range of the floods of different levels expands more rapidly under the RCP4.5 scenario. The floods mainly affect the social economy in the regions with lower altitudes and smaller slopes in eastern China. As the increase in temperature intensifies, the population affected and the direct economic losses are aggravated. For 2 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, under the RCP8.5 scenario, the population affected by floods increases by 2 million, and the economic risk nearly doubles compared with 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming. The economic risk under the RCP4.5 scenario even reaches 3 times that for 1.5 <span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C of global warming, but its proportion to the gross domestic product (GDP) is lower than that under the RCP8.5 scenario. Under both scenarios, the ranges of the zones of medium–high flood risk gradually expand westward and northward.</p>https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/22/1577/2022/nhess-22-1577-2022.pdf
spellingShingle L. Liu
J. Gao
S. Wu
S. Wu
Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
title Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
title_full Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
title_fullStr Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
title_full_unstemmed Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
title_short Warming of 0.5&thinsp;°C may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in China
title_sort warming of 0 5 thinsp °c may cause double the economic loss and increase the population affected by floods in china
url https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/22/1577/2022/nhess-22-1577-2022.pdf
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AT swu warmingof05thinspcmaycausedoubletheeconomiclossandincreasethepopulationaffectedbyfloodsinchina
AT swu warmingof05thinspcmaycausedoubletheeconomiclossandincreasethepopulationaffectedbyfloodsinchina