Natural hazard impacts in small island developing states: A review of current knowledge and future research needs

Small island developing states (or SIDS) are exposed to a large number of natural hazards and many characteristics of small island developing states make them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards. In spite of this acknowledged vulnerability, there are relatively few studies which focus on the impacts of natural hazards in these countries. This paper presents a review of our current state of knowledge of impacts in small island developing states and highlights a number of research needs. Central to these is the need to integrate natural hazards research within a sustainable development context and the need to exploit existing procedures such as government coordinated disaster impact assessments to generate a detailed understanding of natural hazards impacts.     

泥石流作用下建筑物易损性评价方法分析与评价

建筑物易损度评价作为泥石流易损度评价的重要组成部分,其研究是实现城镇及居民点泥石流风险定量化和风险管理的必要环节。综述近30年来,泥石流作用下建筑物易损度研究的发展过程,并指出以统计分析方法建立的建筑物易损度曲线普适性差且力学机理不明等问题,提出数值计算和模型实验的手段获取建筑物结构易损度的机理模型。由于建筑物易损度研究问题本身的复杂性,统计分析方法仍将作为建筑物易损度研究的重要手段,力学机理明晰的研究方法则将成为今后研究的难点和热点。此外,地震、滚石、雪崩等类似灾种的易损度研究方法和成果可被借鉴到泥石流领域。针对灾害中因结构破坏引发人员伤亡的情况,建议采用时间概率和基于条件概率的事件树方法计算建筑物内人员易损度。最终形成综合结构和人员易损度研究成果的建筑物易损度评价方法。     

Assessment of provincial social vulnerability to natural disasters in China

Assessment of social vulnerability has been recognized as a critical step to understand natural hazard risks and to enhance effective response capabilities. Although significant achievements have been made in social vulnerability researches, little is know about the comprehensive profile of regional social vulnerability in China. In this study, the social vulnerability to natural hazards was firstly divided into socioeconomic and built environmental vulnerability. Then, using factor analysis, we identified the dominant factors that influence the provincial social vulnerability in China to natural hazards based on the socioeconomic and built environmental variables in 2000 and 2010 and explored the spatial patterns of social vulnerability. The results indicated that the provincial social vulnerability in China showed significant regional differences. The social vulnerability in the southeastern and eastern regions of China was greater than its northern and central parts over the past decade. Economic status, rural (proportion of agricultural population and percentage of workers employed in primary industries), urbanization, and age structure (children) were the dominant driving forces of variations in provincial socioeconomic vulnerability in two studied years, while lifelines and housing age could explain most of changes in built environmental vulnerability in 2000 and 2010. There were no statistically significant correlations between social vulnerability and disaster losses (p > 0.05), indicating the impact of disasters was also related to the intensity of hazards and exposure. Disaster relief funds allocated to each province of China depended more on its disaster severity than the regional integrated social vulnerability over the past decade. These findings would provide a scientific base for the policy making and implementation of disaster prevention and mitigation in China.     

Methodology for the assessment and classification of regional vulnerability to natural hazards in China: the application of a DEA model

This paper presents a new method for quantifying vulnerability to natural hazards in China. As an important area of vulnerability research, quantitative assessment of vulnerability has raised much focus in academia. Presently, scholars have proposed a variety of methods for quantitative assessment, which usually create an index of overall vulnerability from a suite of indicators, based on the understanding of the cause or mechanism of vulnerability. However, due to the complex nature of vulnerability, this approach caused some arguments on the indicator selection and the weight set for subindices. A data envelopment analysis?Cbased model for the assessment of the regional vulnerability to natural disasters is presented here to improve upon the traditional methods, and a new approach for the classification of vulnerability is proposed. The vulnerability to natural hazards in China??s mainland is illustrated as a case study. The result shows that the overall level of vulnerability to natural hazards in mainland China is high. The geographic pattern shows that vulnerability is highest in western China, followed by diminishing vulnerability in central China, and lowest vulnerability levels in eastern China. There is a negative correlation between the level of vulnerability and the level of regional economic development.     

An approach for measuring social vulnerability in context: The case of flood hazards in Muzarabani district,Zimbabwe

Understanding the complexity of vulnerability to disasters, including those triggered by floods, droughts and epidemics is at the heart of disaster risk reduction. Despite its importance in disaster risk reduction, there remains a paucity of approaches that contribute to our understanding of social vulnerability that is hidden in dynamic contextual conditions. The study demonstrates an accessible means to assessing the spatial variation of social vulnerability to flood hazards and related for the context of Muzarabani district in northeast Zimbabwe. The study facilitated local identification with residents of variables contributing to social vulnerability and used the principal component analysis (PCA) technique to develop a social vulnerability index (SoVI). Using ArcMap10.2 geographic information systems (GIS) tool, the study mapped composite SoVI at the ward level. The results showed that Muzarabani district is socially vulnerable to hazards. The social vulnerability is influenced by a variety of economic, social and institutional factors that vary across the wards. Quantifying and visualising social vulnerability in Muzarabani provides useful information for decision makers to support disaster preparedness and mitigation programmes. The approach shows how spatially distributed multivariate vulnerability, as grounded in interpretations at local level, can be quantitatively derived for contexts such as those of Muzarabani. The study findings can inform disaster risk reduction communities and cognate disciplines on quantitative assessments for managing hazard vulnerability where these have hitherto not been developed.     

A multi-criteria evaluation model of earthquake vulnerability in Victoria,British Columbia

Researchers have recently examined the geographic variability of the vulnerability of populations to earthquakes. These studies focus mainly on the complex modelling of geophysical processes or identification of socio-economically disadvantaged populations. However, no studies to date have integrated different components of vulnerability with metrics of travel distance to hospitals and trauma centres (systemic vulnerability). We argue that this previously unaccounted component is an important conceptual and practical aspect of earthquake vulnerability. Accordingly, this paper presents a multi-criteria model for combining physical, social, and systemic components, moving towards a more comprehensive assessment of vulnerability. An analytic hierarchy process is used to produce a place-specific index of social vulnerability, which we combine with soil liquefaction and amplification index and a road network model for access to hospitals and trauma services. Using a geographic information system, we implemented this model for the Greater Victoria region (483 km², 2011 population: 345,000) in British Columbia, Canada. Clustering of total vulnerability was found in outlying areas, highlighting the importance of access to trauma centres. We conclude by identifying challenges in measuring earthquake vulnerability and advocate integration of systemic vulnerability components in natural hazards research.     

An assessment of multidimensional flood vulnerability at the provincial scale in China based on the DEA method

China suffers frequent and severe floods. A lot of studies have been done in the field of flood disaster, including flood vulnerability assessment. This paper develops assessment models of multidimensional flood vulnerability based on the data envelopment analysis method and identifies multidimensional flood vulnerability??population, death, agriculture and economy??at the provincial scale in China using flood damage data and socioeconomic statistical data from 2001 to 2010. Based on the characteristics of multidimensional flood vulnerability of each province, some suggestions for flood prevention and mitigation are suggested. The assessment models of multidimensional flood vulnerability are simple and can be used for vulnerability analysis of natural disaster at regional or national levels. The assessment of multidimensional flood vulnerability can provide multifaceted information that contributes to a deeper understanding of the flood vulnerability and provides a scientific base for the policy making and implementation of flood prevention and mitigation designs.     

Vulnerability Analysis in Earthquake Loss Estimate

The abodes in Costa Rica have almost the samevulnerability as the old civil houses in China, whichrepresent the vulnerability in worst cases. On theother hand, the high quality buildings in Middle Easthave the same vulnerability as the reinforced concretebuildings in China due to employing thestate-of-art-design and construction techniques, whichrepresent the vulnerability of the best cases. Themacroeconomic vulnerability is defined as the ratio ofphysical economic loss caused by earthquake to theGross Domestic Product (GDP) within a given area.Since the total macroscopic loss is the sum of lossesof different types of buildings and facilities, themacroeconomic vulnerability must be greater than thatof best cases while less than that of worst cases. Inthe present paper, the implications of macroeconomicvulnerability to earthquake loss estimate arediscussed.     

基于COP方法的徐州城市规划区内岩溶水脆弱性评价

基于欧洲模式中针对岩溶含水层脆弱性的评价方法—COP法,根据区内实际水文地质条件,建立徐州城市规划区岩溶水脆弱性评价模型。评价结果表明,脆弱性级别高区、脆弱性级别较高区占徐州城市规划区总面积的23.12%、13.73%;脆弱性级别中等区占总面积的7.85%;脆弱性级别较低区和低区分别占总面积的11.57%、43.73%。总体来看,区内岩溶含水层脆弱性整体较低,不容易被污染;脆弱性高区主要分布在基岩裸露区及其周围地区。     

Vulnerability assessment based on household views from the Dammar Char in Southeastern Bangladesh

Assessing vulnerability is vital for developing new strategies and improving the existing ones to fulfill contemporary demands toward achieving a disaster-resilient society. Dammar Char is situated in the southeastern (SE) coastal region of Bangladesh that has experienced frequent coastal hazards and disasters throughout the year. The present study has constructed a vulnerability index utilizing the quantitative and qualitative data based on household surveys to evaluate the vulnerability of the people and community of Dammar Char. Data were collected from 180 respondents during November–December 2018. The results demonstrate that, on average, the people living in the studied area have a high vulnerability (value of the vulnerability index 0.7015) to coastal hazards and disasters. The vulnerability level differs from individual to individual based on their gender, educational status, financial capacity, structural strength of houses, perception of the respective hazards and disasters, etc. Females have experienced more vulnerability than their adult male counterparts. The natural vulnerability was higher than socioeconomic and physical vulnerability due to the increase in unpredictable extreme climate-induced coastal events. To combat the adverse impacts of coastal hazards and disasters, the local Dammar Char inhabitants have adopted several adaptation measures. The adapted measures are homestead gardening, working in seasonal day labor, fish drying, rearing sheep, and ducks, constructing plinths for elevating the floor of the house, extensive banana cultivation, and storage of dry foods to reduce their vulnerability.

     

我国冰冻圈及其变化的脆弱性与评估方法

基于脆弱性研究文献,从脆弱性概念、评估内容、评估方法等方面系统总结了脆弱性评估研究的特点和趋势,开展脆弱性评估时应注意的系统、关注特征、灾害、尺度与时间等五个方面,剖析了区域尺度脆弱性评估涉及的一系列问题,介绍了脆弱性评估方法及其优缺点和适用性.探讨了我国冰冻圈及其变化的脆弱性概念,分析了二者之间的关系,论述了我国冰冻圈及其变化的脆弱性评估内容、评估尺度和评估方法.     

Alternative water management options to reduce vulnerability for climate change in the Netherlands

Urbanization, land subsidence and sea level rise will increase vulnerability of the urbanized low-lying areas in the western part of the Netherlands. In this article possibilities are explored to reduce vulnerability of these areas by implementing alternative water management options. Two main water management fields are distinguished, water supply and flood control. A four-component vulnerability framework is presented that includes threshold capacity, coping capacity, recovery capacity, and adaptive capacity. By using the vulnerability framework it is shown that current water supply and flood control strategies in the Netherlands focus on increasing threshold capacity by constructing higher and stronger dikes, improved water storage and delivery infrastructure. A complete vulnerability decreasing strategy requires measures that include all four capacities. Flood damage reduction, backup water supply systems and emergency plans are measures that can contribute to increasing coping capacity. Recovery capacity can be increased by multi-source water supply, insurance, or establishing disaster funds. Adaptive capacity can be developed by starting experiments with new modes of water supply and urbanization. Including all four components of the vulnerability framework enables better understanding of water and climate related vulnerability of urban areas and enables developing more complete water management strategies to reduce vulnerability.     

基于模糊综合评判的高原盆地城市水源地脆弱性评价

根据高原盆地城市水源地脆弱性内涵, 评价指标可量化性及不同水源地之间可比性, 选取了水源地水文气象、生态环境、水源污染和地表扰动状况4个方面14个指标, 构建了高原盆地城市水源地脆弱性指标体系.基于高原盆地城市水源地复杂性和指标评价标准界线的模糊性, 采用层次分析法确定指标权重, 应用模糊综合评判法建立评价模型, 运用所建立的评价模型对昆明市松华坝水源地脆弱性进行了评价.结果表明, 昆明市松华坝水源地为中度脆弱. 其中, 水文气象因子、水源污染因子处于中度脆弱状态, 生态环境因子处于轻度脆弱状态, 地表扰动因子介于轻度脆弱与中度脆弱状态之间.     

中国冻土对气候变化的脆弱性

冻土的脆弱性是指冻土对气候变化的脆弱性,是冻土易受气候变化,尤其是温度变化不利影响的程度. 研究冻土对气候变化的脆弱性是提高对自然生态系统、工程系统、生态-社会-经济系统对冻土变化影响的脆弱性的认知,科学适应冻土变化诸种影响的前提和基础. 基于科学性与实际相结合的原则、全面性与主导性原则、可操作性原则,以暴露度、敏感性与适应能力为标准,遴选构建了我国冻土脆弱性评价指标体系. 借助RS与GIS技术平台,使用空间主成分方法,构建了冻土脆弱性指数模型,在区域尺度上综合评价了冻土的脆弱性. 依据自然分类法,将冻土脆弱性分为潜在脆弱、轻度脆弱、中度脆弱、强度脆弱与极强度脆弱5级. 结果表明：总体上我国冻土以中度脆弱为主,但青藏高原多年冻土对气候变化尤为脆弱;冻土脆弱性具有显著的地域分布特点,青藏高原、西部高山、东北多年冻土区脆弱性相对较高,季节冻土区相对较低. 与季节冻土相比,多年冻土对气候变化更脆弱. 在当前升温幅度条件下,冻土脆弱程度主要取决于冻土的地形暴露与冻土对气候变化的适应能力.     

滹滏平原地下水系统脆弱性最佳地下水水位埋深探讨

笔者以滹滏平原为研究区, 采用统计分析的方法, 分析了地下水防污性与地下水资源脆弱性随地下水位埋深之间的变化关系。结果表明, 当地下水位埋深增大时, 地下水防污性增强的地区, 地下水资源脆弱性也增高;通过二者之间变化关系, 认为受地下水位埋深制约及地下水位埋深对二者的不同影响, 存在使地下水系统脆弱性最佳的地下水位埋深区间;通过地下水位埋深对地下水防污性与地下水资源脆弱性影响及其制约关系, 确定滹滏平原淡水区和咸水区地下水系统脆弱性最佳地下水位埋深分别为27~30 m和15~19 m。     

Groundwater vulnerability assessment in the Melaka State of Malaysia using DRASTIC and GIS techniques

The present work attempts to interpret the groundwater vulnerability of the Melaka State in peninsular Malaysia. The state of groundwater pollution in Melaka is a critical issue particularly in respect of the increasing population, and tourism industry as well as the agricultural, industrial and commercial development. Focusing on this issue, the study illustrates the groundwater vulnerability map for the Melaka State using the DRASTIC model together with remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS). The data which correspond to the seven parameters of the model were collected and converted into thematic maps by GIS. Seven thematic maps defining the depth to water level, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity were generated to develop the DRASTIC map. In addition, this map was integrated with a land use map for generating the risk map to assess the effect of land use activities on the groundwater vulnerability. Three types of vulnerability zones were assigned for both DRASTIC map and risk map, namely, high, moderate and low. The DRASTIC map illustrates that an area of 11.02 % is low vulnerability, 61.53 % moderate vulnerability and 23.45 % high vulnerability, whereas the risk map indicates that 14.40 % of the area is low vulnerability, 47.34 % moderate vulnerability and 38.26 % high vulnerability in the study area. The most vulnerability area exists around Melaka, Jasin and Alor Gajah cities of the Melaka State.     

湖南省农业生态水资源库脆弱性评价

以湖南农业生态水资源库为研究对象,分析了其脆弱性成因和主要表现.从脆弱性成因角度构建了包含10个具体指标的湖南生态水资源库脆弱性评价指标体系,运用模糊物元评价模型对85个县级评价单元的农业生态水资源库脆弱度进行综合评判.结果表明:全省农业生态水资源库脆弱性等级以中等脆弱为主,其中,微脆弱等级11个,占总评价单元的12.9%;中等脆弱等级74个,占总评价单元的87.1%.脆弱度空间分布存在"西部大于东部,南部大于北部"的总体分布态势.其中,以湘西北、湘西南和湘南所构成的外部环形地带和以长沙、衡邵盆地为中心的中东部地带为全省两个比较明显的高脆弱区(带).     

石家庄市地下水脆弱性评价

采用DRASTIC评价模型,不考虑地形与土壤两个因素,将人类活动（抽取地下水）与其他5个因素作为评价指标,对石家庄地区的地下水进行评价,由结果可以看出在人类活动频繁地区,人类活动是地下水脆弱性重要影响因素.     

我国县域单元地质灾害风险评估

文中地质灾害包括崩塌、滑坡、泥石流、地面塌陷四类突发性地质灾害。采用地质灾害危险性与承灾体易损性分项测算,定性综合评估的方式实现我国县域单元地质灾害风险评估。将承灾体易损性分为人口安全易损性与资产易损性,用因灾死亡人口比与因灾直接经济损失比表征。基于以历史数据分析指导未来预测的思想,以国土资源部2001—2015年地质灾害灾情数据为样本,提出了人口安全易损性与资产易损性的分级标准。对我国2869个县域单元进行地质灾害风险评价,结果表明共有216个地质灾害高风险单元、643个中风险单元和2010个低风险单元。地质灾害高风险区集中分布于乌蒙山区、四川盆地周边山区以及云南西部和西藏东南部。