Typhoon disaster risk zoning for China's coastal area

Previous studies on typhoon disaster risk zoning in China have focused on individual provinces or small-scale areas and lack county-level results. In this study, typhoon disaster risk zoning is conducted for China's coastal area, based on data at the county level. Using precipitation and wind data for China and typhoon disaster and social data at the county level for China's coastal area from 2004 to 2013, first we analyze the characteristics of typhoon disasters in China's coastal area and then develop an intensity index of factors causing typhoon disasters and a comprehensive social vulnerability index. Finally, by combining the two indices, we obtain a comprehensive risk index for typhoon disasters and conduct risk zoning. The results show that the maximum intensity areas are mainly the most coastal areas of both Zhejiang and Guangdong, and parts of Hainan Island, which is similar to the distribution of typhoon disasters. The maximum values of vulnerability in the northwest of Guangxi, parts of Fujian coastal areas and parts of the Shandong Peninsula. The comprehensive risk index generally decreases from coastal areas to inland areas. The high-risk areas are mainly distributed over Hainan Island, south-western Guangdong, most coastal Zhejiang, the coastal areas between Zhejiang and Fujian and parts of the Shandong Peninsula.

Automated summary

Previous studies on typhoon disaster risk zoning in China have mainly focused on individual provinces or small-scale areas, lacking county-level results. This study conducted typhoon disaster risk zoning for China's coastal area based on county-level data. The results indicated that the areas with the highest vulnerability are mainly located in the northwest of Guangxi and parts of the coastal areas in Fujian.