Normalizing economic loss from natural disasters: A global analysis

Climate change is likely to lead to an increase in the frequency and/or intensity of certain types of natural hazards, if not globally, then at least in certain regions. All other things equal, this should lead to an increase in the economic toll from natural disasters over time. Yet, all other things are not equal since affected areas become wealthier over time and rational individuals and governments undertake defensive mitigation measures, which requires normalizing economic losses if one wishes to analyze trends in economic loss from natural disasters for detecting a potential climate change signal. In this article, we argue that the conventional methodology for normalizing economic loss is problematic since it normalizes for changes in wealth over time, but fails to normalize for differences in wealth across space at any given point of time. We introduce an alternative methodology that overcomes this problem in theory, but faces many more problems in its empirical application. Applying, therefore, both methods to the most comprehensive existing global dataset of natural disaster loss, in general we find no significant upward trends in normalized disaster damage over the period 1980-2009 globally, regionally, for specific disasters or for specific disasters in specific regions. Due to our inability to control for defensive mitigation measures, one cannot infer from our analysis that there have definitely not been more frequent and/or more intensive weather-related natural hazards over the study period already. Moreover, it may still be far too early to detect a trend if human-induced climate change has only just started and will gain momentum over time.     

Economic development and natural disasters: A satellite data analysis

In this study we examine the impact of large-scale natural disasters on economic development. A major obstacle in exploring this relationship is the poor data quality on GDP per capita in low-income countries, while at the same time more than 90% of all disasters that happen worldwide occur in these particular countries. To overcome this problem, we use data based on satellite images of the night-time light intensity in a specific country or region which is shown to be highly correlated with income per capita. After testing for the sensitivity of the results, our main findings suggest that natural disasters reduce the amount of lights visible from outer space significantly in the short run. To be more precise, we demonstrate that climatic and hydrological disasters cause a large drop in the luminosity in developing and emerging market countries, while geophysical and meteorological disasters decrease light intensity more in industrialized countries. It turns out that using reported real GDP per capita figures underestimates the true impact. Besides, a large part of the economic consequences of the natural events is explained by their regional impact. However, in the long run most of the disaster effect has disappeared. Finally, the impact of a disaster depends partly on the size and scope of the natural catastrophe, the geographical location, the degree of financial development of a country and the quality of the political institutions present.     

A place-based model for understanding community resilience to natural disasters

There is considerable research interest on the meaning and measurement of resilience from a variety of research perspectives including those from the hazards/disasters and global change communities. The identification of standards and metrics for measuring disaster resilience is one of the challenges faced by local, state, and federal agencies, especially in the United States. This paper provides a new framework, the disaster resilience of place (DROP) model, designed to improve comparative assessments of disaster resilience at the local or community level. A candidate set of variables for implementing the model are also presented as a first step towards its implementation.     

Effectiveness of flood damage mitigation measures: Empirical evidence from French flood disasters

Recent destructive flood events and projected increases in flood risks as a result of climate change in many regions around the world demonstrate the importance of improving flood risk management. Flood-proofing of buildings is often advocated as an effective strategy for limiting damage caused by floods. However, few empirical studies have estimated the damage that can be avoided by implementing such flood damage mitigation measures. This study estimates potential damage savings and the cost-effectiveness of specific flood damage mitigation measures that were implemented by households during major flood events in France. For this purpose, data about flood damage experienced and household flood preparedness were collected using a survey of 885 French households in three flood-prone regions that face different flood hazards. Four main conclusions can be drawn from this study. First, using regression analysis results in improved estimates of the effectiveness of mitigation measures than methods used by earlier studies that compare mean damage suffered between households who have, and who have not, taken these measures. Second, this study has provided empirical insights showing that some mitigation measures can substantially reduce damage during floods. Third, the effectiveness of the mitigation measures is very regional dependent, which can be explained by the different characteristics of the flood hazard in our sample areas that experience either slow onset river flooding or more rapid flash and coastal flooding. Fourth, the cost-efficiency of the flood damage mitigation measures depends strongly on the flood probability faced by households.     

A relationship between solar activity and frequency of natural disasters in China

The relationship between the length of the solar cycle, a good indicator of long-term change in solar activity, and natural disasters (drought, flood, and strong earthquakes) in China during the last 108 years is analyzed. The results suggest that the length of solar cycle may be a useful indicator for drought/flood and strong earthquakes. When the solar activity strengthens, we see the length of the solar cycle shorten and more floods occur in South China and frequent strong earthquakes happen in the Tibetan Plateau,but the droughts in East China as well as the strong earthquakes in Taiwan and at the western boundary of China are very few. The opposite frequencies occur when the solar activity weakens. The current study indicates that the solar activity may play an important role in the climate extremes and behavior in the lithosphere.     

全球气温趋势和近期中国气候灾害的成因分析和展望

全球气温演变趋势和近期中国气候灾害有一定的联系;分析表明:1998年以来全球气温基本稳定仅有小幅波动,并未呈现如IPCC(2007)所预言的那样快速升温,而2005年以来太阳活动的异常状况可能标志它今后的长期减弱趋势;因此本文首先归纳太阳活动影响气候研究的最新进展,发现其对气候的影响绝非限于大气顶上太阳总幅照(TSI)的微小变化,而会通过平流层臭氧对更大变幅的紫外辐射的的吸收,加热作用触发平流层-对流层的大气环流变化,结合热带-副热带海洋混合层对太阳输入能量的积累,TSI 0.1%的变化会在地球气候系统中产生放大效应,这突出表现在东太平洋热带-副热带海域海-气作用的响应,ENSO位相相应变化及北极/北大西洋涛动指数的响应,大量的观测研究结果支持上述论点;近年来太阳活动低值期北半球冬季中高纬和中国均遭受异常冷害侵袭即是明证,初步揭示出以夏季东太平洋副高强度指数首先反映的地球气候系统对太阳活动响应的一系列气候过程;对今后10 a全球气温趋势也作了初步展望。     

Prioritising resilience policies to reduce welfare losses from natural disasters: A case study for coastal Bangladesh

Quantified flood risk assessments focus on asset losses, neglecting longer-term impacts to household welfare via income and consumption losses. The extent of welfare losses depends upon resilience – the ability to anticipate, resist, cope, recover and learn from a shock. Here, we use a novel welfare loss modelling framework and perform a high-resolution spatial analysis in coastal Bangladesh to quantify welfare losses from a tropical cyclone under present and future climatic and socio-economic conditions. We further test various adaptation options that are intended to enhance resilience. Results show that poor households experience, on average, 7% of the asset losses, but 42% of the welfare losses. Combining dike heightening, post-disaster support and stronger housing can reduce welfare losses by up to 70%, and foster sustainable development by benefitting the poor, increasing resilience and demonstrating robustness under socio-economic and climatic uncertainties. Thus, a welfare-orientated perspective helps to identify adaptation options that enhance resilience and leave no-one behind.     

自然灾害影响及(预)评估

对达州市自然灾害的总体特征、影响情况和形成原因进行了分析.并对21世纪初期(2000～2010年)自然灾害可能发生的情况和造成的影响进行了预评估.     

自然灾害影响及（预）评估

对达州市自然灾害的总体特征、影响情况和形成原因进行了分析。并对21世纪初期(2000～2010年)自然灾害可能发生的情况和造成的影响进行了预评估。     

自然灾害对公共安全的影响及其监测预警科技发展战略

改革开放以来,我国在自然灾害监测预警的各个环节均取得了可喜的发展,对减轻灾害损失、保障人民生命财产安全和社会稳定繁荣发展发挥了重要作用。但仍需清醒地认识到,在灾害规律演变、社会经济发展的新形势下,各类自然灾害对国家公共安全仍存在很大的威胁;我国目前灾害监测预警能力与国家防灾减灾“三个转变”需求以及国际先进水平相比仍存在较大差距。因此,本文简要论述了气象、海洋、地质、地震、生物五大自然灾害对国家公共安全的影响,并根据我国目前监测预警状况和存在问题,提出未来5～10 a我国自然灾害监测预警科技发展战略要从加强预测预报基础理论研究、提升综合监测能力、构建高效自然灾害预警系统以及发展减灾避灾和救灾技术四个方面着手推进。     

2018年湖南省农村自然灾害社会脆弱性测度

农村社会发展状况与自然灾害发生频率和强度息息相关,提高农村自然灾害社会脆弱性对农村社会发展及实现乡村振兴战略具有重要作用。以湖南省各地级市州农村为研究对象,从敏感性和恢复力两个维度建立社会脆弱性指标评价体系,采用熵值法、模糊综合评价法和函数法测算敏感性、恢复力和脆弱性指数,分析2018年湖南省农村自然灾害社会脆弱性。结果表明,湖南省农村社会脆弱性空间分异特征明显,呈现“东低西高”的分布格局;多数地区的农村社会脆弱性处于低位水平,地区分异显著,具有两极分化分布特点,张家界地区最高,长沙和衡阳地区最低。在中低社会脆弱性的农村,恢复力指数对社会脆弱性贡献最大,其中最为显著的便是社会公共事业的建设水平和基础设施的完善水平。在高社会脆弱性的农村,敏感性指数对社会脆弱性贡献度最大。     

The political economy of natural disaster damage

Economic damage from natural hazards can sometimes be prevented and always mitigated. However, private individuals tend to underinvest in such measures due to problems of collective action, information asymmetry and myopic behavior. Governments, which can in principle correct these market failures, themselves face incentives to underinvest in costly disaster prevention policies and damage mitigation regulations. Yet, disaster damage varies greatly across countries. We argue that rational actors will invest more in trying to prevent and mitigate damage the larger a country's propensity to experience frequent and strong natural hazards. Accordingly, economic loss from an actually occurring disaster will be smaller the larger a country's disaster propensity – holding everything else equal, such as hazard magnitude, the country's total wealth and per capita income. At the same time, damage is not entirely preventable and smaller losses tend to be random. Disaster propensity will therefore have a larger marginal effect on larger predicted damages than on smaller ones. We employ quantile regression analysis in a global sample to test these predictions, focusing on the three disaster types causing the vast majority of damage worldwide: earthquakes, floods and tropical cyclones.     

EOS/MODIS资料在陕西自然灾害监测中的应用

1　沙尘天气监测　　在形成沙尘暴的各种主要沙尘微粒中,粒径大于11μm的是小于1μm的3～5倍。在利用卫星遥感监测沙尘暴中,主要应考虑大粒子沙尘的光学和辐射传输特性。沙尘粒子在不同光谱区间有不同的尺度参数,而且粒子半径越大,其尺度参数越大,散射能量越向前集中,吸收消光也同时增加,散射比下降;天空中大粒子浮尘增多时,光线被强烈吸收,能见度则急剧下降。根据沙尘和大粒子气溶胶的散射和辐射特性,以及MODIS数据较宽的光谱范围和空间覆盖度以及随时间变化的资料连续覆盖的特点,可以看出MODIS更适合对地球大气、海洋和陆地进行表面特…     

Flirting with Disaster: Impacts of natural disasters on public support for environmental spending

Policymakers must understand public opinion to craft effective policies, particularly in highly polarized areas such as environmental policy. However, the literature investigating the factors that drive public opinion on environmental spending largely ignores the role of exogenous events. This article investigates the role that natural disasters, as a form of exogenous shock, play in shaping public opinion. We construct a dataset using the General Social Survey (GSS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) natural disaster data from 1980 to 2018 and use generalized ordered logistic models to analyze the relationship between disasters and environmental opinions in the US. Our findings reveal that the number of disasters that occur significantly drives public support for environmental spending and that different types of disaster have heterogeneous impacts with wildfires and severe winter weather events being the most impactful. These results shed light on the impact of environmental events on public opinion on the environment, helping both researchers and policymakers make sense of dynamic public opinions.     

暴雨灾害对福建水稻产量影响的灾损评估方法

洪涝灾害是影响农业生产的主要自然灾害之一,开展农作物洪涝灾害损失评估是指导农业防灾减灾的重要依据,对稳定农业生产和保障粮食安全具有重要意义。首先,简要回顾了近30 a农作物洪涝灾害致灾机理的研究进展,分类梳理农作物洪涝灾害损失评估的主要方法,指出相关方法在不同应用场景中的优势和局限性;在此基础上,提出以多源数据为支撑、以水动力模型为引擎、基于数值模拟与机器学习相结合、面向致灾过程的农作物洪涝灾害损失动态模拟框架,并展望提出未来重点研究的3个方向：（1）构建多致灾参数脆弱性模型,完善针对不同孕灾环境和承灾体的模型库;（2）加强多源数据融合应用以提高评估精度,发展并行计算和人工智能算法以提高计算效率;（3）加强洪涝灾害评估综合平台建设,向深度智能化场景应用转变。

     

两次特大山地灾害的气象成因对比分析

对诱发秦巴山区两次特大山地灾害的特大暴雨的主要影响系统、物理量场特征、卫星云图演变等进行对比分析。副热带高压和乌山阻高的维持和有利配置为这两次特大暴雨提供了有利的背景条件,副热带高压外围的西南气流、低空急流为暴雨天气提供了充沛的水汽条件,高空槽、低空切变线的共同作用,产生了特大暴雨。两次过程高低空急流都是耦合出现的,低层辐合、高层辐散的上升运动以及夜晚对流发展触发对流不稳定能量释放,促进中尺度对流的旺盛发展。     

黑龙江省雷电灾害调查及案例分析

1引言雷电是一种大自然释放电现象。雷电引起森林火灾,点燃爆炸物,导致输电线路与电力系统故障,扰乱控制系统的电子设备,对人民生产、生活造成很大影响。2雷电灾害调查的意义雷电灾害调查是在雷电事故产生后,对雷电事故发生现场情况、发生地勘察、现场取证、事故鉴定、评估事故损失并整理出事故发生原因。通过雷电灾害调查及鉴定可以预防同类事故发生可能性,从而为气象部门处理同类事故做出理论依据,同时气象部门对雷电灾害防御工作具有管理权,也为政府制定防灾减灾工作方向。     

雷山县近46a气温变化趋势分析

通过对雷山县1961-2005年各项温度指标进行统计分析,并利用Mann-Kendall突变检验方法对各项温度指标进行检验,得出:雷山县气温变化不明显,年平均气温、年极端最高气温及春、秋、冬季的平均气温都没有发生突变现象,年平均最低气温在1985年开始发生了暖突变,夏季平均气温在1964年开始发生了冷突变.     

毕节地区气象灾害分析及公共气象服务体系建设思考

该文在分析贵州省毕节地区气象灾害种类、发生频率、影响范围、灾情及发生发展规律等特点的基础上,就公共气象服务体系建设作粗浅探讨。     

三个全球气象灾害数据库对比及展望

针对气象相关灾害,对3个主要全球灾害数据库进行了概述,包括比利时鲁汶大学国家灾害流行病研究中心的紧急灾害数据库(EM-DAT)、德国慕尼黑再保险公司的自然灾害数据库(NatCat)和瑞士再保险公司的数据库(Sigma),比较了各灾害数据库在建设目的、收录标准及灾害种类划分上的差异.E M-D AT由于能够访问下载,在国...