Vulnerability assessment of storm surges in the coastal area of Guangdong Province

K Li,G S Li

doi:10.5194/nhess-11-2003-2011

Abstract

Abstract. Being bordered by the South China Sea and with long coastline, the coastal zone of Guangdong Province is often under severe risk of storm surges, as one of a few regions in China which is seriously threatened by storm surges. This article systematically analyzes the vulnerability factors of storm surges in the coastal area of Guangdong (from Yangjing to Shanwei). Five vulnerability assessment indicators of hazard-bearing bodies are proposed, which are social economic index, land use index, eco-environmental index, coastal construction index, and disaster-bearing capability index. Then storm surge vulnerability assessment index system in the coastal area of Guangdong is established. Additionally, the international general mode about coastal vulnerability assessment is improved, and the vulnerability evolution model of storm surges in the coastal area of Guangdong is constructed. Using ArcGIS, the vulnerability zoning map of storm surges in the study region is drawn. Results show that there is the highest degree of storm surge vulnerability in Zhuhai, Panyu, and Taishan; second in Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huiyang, and Haifeng; third in Jiangmen, Shanwei, Yangjiang, and Yangdong; fourth in Baoan, Kaiping, and Enping; and lowest in Guangzhou, Shunde, Shenzhen, and Longgang. This study on the risk of storm surges in these coastal cities can guide the land use of coastal cities in the future, and provide scientific advice for the government to prevent and mitigate the storm surge disasters. It has important theoretical and practical significance.

Highlights

Storm surges are oscillations of the water level in a coastal or inland water body in the period range of a few minutes to a few days, resulting from forcing from the atmospheric weather systems
Four indexes – social economic index, land use index, eco-environmental index and coastal construction index – are used to reflect the basic features of disaster-bearing bodies when they are faced with storm surge disasters
The coastal region of Guangdong Province is a region seriously threatened by storm surges in China

Summary

Introduction

Storm surges are oscillations of the water level in a coastal or inland water body in the period range of a few minutes to a few days, resulting from forcing from the atmospheric weather systems (i.e., it’s the difference between the observed water level and the predicted astronomical tide). In August 2005, hurricane Katrina attacked New Orleans in America, leading to a huge storm surge disaster that caused 1069 deaths and more than 100 billion dollars of economic losses. Storm surge is the most serious marine disaster in China, causing heavy losses to human life and property every year (Feng, 1982). In August 2006, typhoon “Saomei” landed in Cangnan county of Zhejiang Province, resulting in a serious storm surge disaster that caused 326 deaths and 7.1 billion yuan of economic losses. The coastal area of Guangdong Province is a region faced with the most serious storm surges in China. S. Li: The vulnerability assessment of storm surges storm surge disasters occurred in Guangdong Province, causing enormous loss of human life and poverty. Drawing from the numerous definitions mentioned above, it is clear that social inequities along the lines of class, race, ethnicity, gender, age, and national origin are key elements in people’s vulnerability to environmental calamities

Study area

Assessment index system and methods

Data processing

Findings

Vulnerability assessment

Conclusion and discussion