Risk Assessment And Regionalization Of Tropical Cyclone Disasters In Zhejiang

Facing the situation of the lack of county-level disaster data in the risk assessment of typhoon disaster in China and the inadequate research in the coupling of affecting factors and vulnerability, a targeted study on these issues has been carried out. By comparing the National Climate Center’s province-level and county-level disaster data during 2004 to 2012, Zhejiang is finally selected as the study area in this paper. The characteristics of typhoon disasters in Zhejiang and the affecting factors are discussed, and the comprehensive strength index of the affecting factors is obtained by the canonical correlation analysis. And the index of population vulnerability in Zhejiang is analyzed by principal components analysis method. After integrating two indexes, the comprehensive risk index of the typhoon disaster in Zhejiang is finally obtained. Results are as follows:(1) Disaster and the characteristics of wind and rain in China:During 1984-2012, the losses caused by typhoon disasters increase significantly. Typhoon rainfall declines from the southeast coast to inland regions, and more contribution will be donated by typhoon rainfall when the precipitation becomes heavier. Besides, tropical cyclone extreme winds mainly appear in coastal areas in East China and South China, whose intensity increases significantly. (2) Disaster and the risk of wind and rain in Zhejiang: Typhoon disasters in the southeast of Zhejiang are more serious. The frequency of typhoon heavy rainfall decreases from the southeast coast of Zhejiang to inland, which appears more frequently at the junction of Fujian. The southeastern of Zhejiang, the junction of Fujian and Hangzhou Bay Area are often attacked by typhoon extreme high wind, where face the highest risk of typhoon disasters. (3) The typhoon disaster risk index and regionalization:In Wenzhou, Taizhou and Ningbo, the values of the average comprehensive intensity index of affecting factors are higher, which are in agreement with the results of risk analysis.The fragile counties in Zhejiang are mostly those mountain areas where facing more geological disasters and low income. However, those people who live in cities are stronger because of the high quality of house and ability of disaster prevention and reduction. The typhoon disaster comprehensive risk index and regionalization in this paper is similar to the actual situation, which can provide a reference for typhoon disaster prevention and reduction.