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Risk assessment of tropical storm surges for coastal regions of China
Author(s) -
Gao Y.,
Wang H.,
Liu G. M.,
Sun X. Y.,
Fei X. Y.,
Wang P. T.,
Lv T. T.,
Xue Z. S.,
He Y. W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/2013jd021268
Subject(s) - storm surge , tropical cyclone , environmental science , storm , climatology , hazard , china , risk assessment , vulnerability (computing) , tide gauge , geography , physical geography , meteorology , sea level , geology , ecology , computer security , archaeology , computer science , biology
Storm surges are responsible for much of the damage and loss of life associated with landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs). Thus, understanding the characteristics of risk associated with TC storm surges for the coastal regions of China is of great interest. Based on a comprehensive assessment of hazard indices for TC storm surges and vulnerability indices for coastal counties, we obtained a risk assessment for coastal regions of China as a county‐level unit. The hazard index was calculated using a model based on the parameters of a TC landfall frequency index ( f ) and maximum storm surge elevation (MSSE). The MSSE was calculated from the TC maximum sustained wind and tide gauge records using a regression function. Vulnerability indices were obtained from indices on socioeconomics, land use, the ecological environment, and resilience. From this study, it can be concluded that the hazard level of TC storm surges increases from north to south along the Chinese coast, the vulnerabilities have significant spatial heterogeneity, and coastal regions of China can be divided into four zones of risk level. The results of this study can provide scientific support for marine disaster mitigation and decision making. Additionally, the risk assessment methodology used here for storm surges could be extended and applied to other coastal areas.