scholarly journals Continental Portuguese Territory Flood Social Susceptibility Index

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1921-1931 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Grosso ◽  
L. Dias ◽  
H. P. Costa ◽  
F. D. Santos ◽  
P. Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Region ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Susceptibility Index ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Flood Effects

Abstract. The combination of human exposure, extreme weather events and lack of adaptation strategies to cope with flood-related impacts can potentially increase losses not only on infrastructure but also on human lives. These impacts are usually difficult to quantify due to the lack of data, and for this reason most of the studies developed at the national scale only include the main characteristics that define the societal or individual predisposition to be affected, resist, adapt or recover, when exposed to a flood. The main objective of this work was to develop a flood social susceptibility index for the continental Portuguese territory based on the most representative variables able to characterize different influencing factors. This index is a component of the national vulnerability index developed in the scope of Flood Maps in Climate Change Scenarios (CIRAC) project, supported by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS). The main results showed that the proposed index correctly identified populations less prepared to avoid flood effects or able to cope with them, mostly concentrated in rural inland areas with lower income and education levels when compared with the coastal region between Viana do Castelo and Setúbal.

scholarly journals Continental Portuguese Territory Flood Social Susceptibility Index

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 7553-7582
Author(s):  
N. Grosso ◽  
L. Dias ◽  
H. P. Costa ◽  
F. D. Santos ◽  
P. Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Region ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Susceptibility Index ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Flood Maps

Abstract. The combination of human exposure, extreme weather events and lack of adaptation strategies to cope with flood related impacts can potentially increase losses not only on infrastructure but also on human lives. These impacts are usually difficult to quantify due to the lack of data and for this reason most of the studies developed at the national scale only include the main characteristics that define the societal or individual predisposition to be affected, resist, adapt or recover, when exposed to a flood. The main objective of this work was to develop a flood social susceptibility index for the continental Portuguese territory based on the most representative variables able to characterize different influencing factors. This index is part of the national vulnerability index developed in the scope of Flood Maps in Climate Change Scenarios (CIRAC) project, supported by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS). The main results showed that the proposed index correctly identified populations more socially susceptible to floods, mostly concentrated in rural inland areas with lower income and education levels, when compared with the coastal region between Viana do Castelo and Setúbal.

scholarly journals Extreme Meteorological Events in a Coastal Lagoon Ecosystem: The Ria de Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal) Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 727
Author(s):  
José Fortes Lopes ◽  
Carina Lurdes Lopes ◽  
João Miguel Dias
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Ria De Aveiro ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
The Impact

Extreme weather events (EWEs) represent meteorological hazards for coastal lagoon hydrodynamics, of which intensity and frequency are increasing over the last decades as a consequence of climate changes. The imbalances they generated should affect primarily vulnerable low-lying areas while potentially disturbing the physical balances (salt and water temperature) and, therefore, the ecosystem equilibrium. This study arises from the need to assess the impact of EWEs on the Ria de Aveiro, a lagoon situated in the Portuguese coastal area. Furthermore, it was considered that those events occur under the frame of a future sea-level rise, as predicted by several climate change scenarios. Two EWEs scenarios, a dry and an extremely wet early summer reflecting past situations and likely to occur in the future, were considered to assess the departure from the system baseline functioning. It was used as a biogeochemistry model that simulates the hydrodynamics, as well as the baseline physical and biogeochemistry state variables. The dry summer scenario, corresponding to a significant reduction in the river’s inflow, evidences a shift of the system to a situation under oceanic dominance characterized by colder and saltier water (~18 °C; 34 PSU) than the baseline while lowering the concentration of the nutrients and reducing the phytoplankton population to a low-level limit. Under a wet summer scenario, the lagoon shifted to a brackish and warmer situation (~21 °C, <15 PSU) in a time scale of some tidal periods, driven by the combining effect of the tidal transport and the river’s inflow. Phytoplankton patterns respond to variability on local and short-term scales that reflect physical conditions within the lagoon, inducing nutrient-supported growth. Overall, the results indicate that EWEs generate local and transient changes in physical conditions (namely salinity and water temperature) in response to the characteristic variability of the lagoon’s hydrodynamics associated with a tidal-dominated system. Therefore, in addition to the potential impact of changing physical conditions on the ecosystem, saline intrusion along the lagoon or the transfer of brackish water to the mouth of the system are the main consequences of EWEs, while the main biogeochemistry changes tend to remain moderate.

scholarly journals Continental Portuguese Territory Flood Susceptibility Index – contribution for a vulnerability index

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 7521-7552 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jacinto ◽  
N. Grosso ◽  
E. Reis ◽  
L. Dias ◽  
F. D. Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Susceptibility Index ◽  
Flood Susceptibility ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
Variable Weight ◽  
Future Work

Abstract. This work defines a national flood susceptibility index for the Portuguese continental territory, by proposing the aggregation of different variables which represent natural conditions for permeability, runoff and accumulation. This index is part of the national vulnerability index developed in the scope of Flood Maps in Climate Change Scenarios (CIRAC) project, supported by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS). This approach expands on previous works by trying to bridge the gap between different floods mechanisms (e.g. progressive and flash floods) occurring at different spatial scales in the Portuguese territory through: (a) selecting homogeneously processed datasets, (b) aggregating their values to better translate the spatially continuous and cumulative influence in floods at multiple spatial scales. Results show a good ability to capture, in the higher susceptibility classes, different flood types: progressive floods and flash floods. Lower values are usually related to: mountainous areas, low water accumulation potential and more permeable soils. Validation with independent flood datasets confirmed these index characteristics, although some overestimation can be seen in the southern region of Alentejo where, due to a dense hydrographic network and an overall low slope, floods are not as frequent as a result of lower precipitation mean values. Future work will focus on: (i) including extreme precipitation datasets to represent the triggering factor, (ii) improving representation of smaller and stepper basins, (iii) optimizing variable weight definition process, (iii) developing more robust independent flood validation datasets.

scholarly journals Continental Portuguese Territory Flood Susceptibility Index – contribution to a vulnerability index

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1907-1919 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jacinto ◽  
N. Grosso ◽  
E. Reis ◽  
L. Dias ◽  
F. D. Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Validation Data ◽  
Susceptibility Index ◽  
Flood Susceptibility ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
Variable Weight

Abstract. This work defines a national flood susceptibility index for the Portuguese continental territory, by proposing the aggregation of different variables which represent natural conditions for permeability, runoff and accumulation. This index is part of the national vulnerability index developed in the scope of Flood Maps in Climate Change Scenarios (CIRAC) project, supported by the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS). This approach expands on previous works by trying to bridge the gap between different flood mechanisms (e.g. progressive and flash floods) occurring at different spatial scales in the Portuguese territory through (a) selecting homogeneously processed data sets and (b) aggregating their values to better translate the spatially continuous and cumulative influence in floods at multiple spatial scales. Results show a good ability to capture, in the higher susceptibility classes, different flood types: fluvial floods and flash floods. Lower values are usually related to mountainous areas, low water accumulation potential and more permeable soils. Validation with independent flood data sets confirmed these index characteristics, although some overestimation can be seen in the southern region of Alentejo where, due to a dense hydrographic network and an overall low slope, floods are not as frequent as a result of lower precipitation mean values. Future work will focus on (i) including extreme precipitation data sets to represent the triggering factor, (ii) improving representation of smaller and stepper basins, (iii) optimizing variable weight definition process and (iii) developing more robust independent flood validation data sets.

Sensitivity Analysis of the Index of a Rural Municipality’s Vulnerability to Losses Resulting from Extreme Weather Events

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kocur-Bera
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Numerical Indicator ◽  
Financial Losses

Vulnerability index describes, in the form of a numerical indicator, the vulnerability of rural areas to financial losses resulting from extreme weather events. The index can also be used for the management, planning and administration of a space. A sensitivity analysis is a technique used to determine the response of the index under study to a change to either the value or the number of variables. This technique is used within specified boundaries which depend on one or more input variables. The main aim of the study was to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the vulnerability index depending on the number of variables making up this index. Results show that the excess of features under consideration results in the distortion of the level of the index of vulnerability to financial losses resulting from extreme weather events, while the determination of vulnerability on the sole basis of the arising financial losses may lead to erroneous conclusions.

scholarly journals Landscape and well-being: A conceptual framework and an example

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Yuill ◽  
Natascha Mueller-Hirth ◽  
Nguyen Song Tung ◽  
Nguyen Thi Kim Dung ◽  
Pham Thi Tram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Social Agents ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
North Vietnam ◽  
The Relationship

This article explores why landscape is a crucial element in researching the relationship between environment and well-being. The main point we make is that human social agents are embedded in particular landscapes, and it is in landscapes that environmental changes are experienced, which can have implications for well-being. We draw from a variety of perspectives on landscape that understands a fundamental creative relation between humans and landscape and recent developments in neo-materialism theorising. Landscape is understood here as an assemblage of different forms of matter, animate and inanimate objects, as well as symbolic and cultural processes. A case study is also presented to indicate how landscape can be studied in relation to environment and change. Using the conceptual ideas laid out in the first section of the article, we analyse landscape, environment and well-being in Xuan Thuy National Park in North Vietnam. The area is part of a precarious coastal region where extreme weather events have impacted on the well-being of both humans and other matter. This article concludes with suggestions on the use of this landscape approach in researching environment and well-being.

scholarly journals Possible Effects of Climate Change on New Zealand Design Wind Speeds

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Ali Safaei Pirooz ◽  
Richard G.J. Flay ◽  
Richard Turner ◽  
Cesar Azorin-Molina
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Wind Gust ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Safety And Reliability

&lt;p&gt;The climate is changing, and as a result, the Earth could experience more severe extreme weather events. Growing interest and concern about the effects of climate change on cities, infrastructures and people&amp;#8217;s lives raises the question &amp;#8220;how are design wind speeds influenced by different climate change scenarios?&amp;#8221;. This study aims at (i) analysing the gust wind records of four meteorological stations across New Zealand for the period 1972-2017; (ii) investigating whether or not the long-term wind gust series have changed significantly; and (iii) how these changes can be considered in the estimation of design wind speeds to ensure the safety and reliability of the future structures.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Historical hourly and daily gust wind speed series recorded at the four selected stations were subjected to a robust quality control and homogenisation protocol to ensure all the artificial inhomogeneities resulting from factors like station relocations, anemometer height changes, instrumentation malfunctions, instrumentation changes, different sampling intervals, and observation environment changes, have been eliminated prior to any subsequent analyses. Then, annual and seasonal trends in both magnitudes and frequencies of the extreme winds were evaluated as to whether the observed trends are statistically significant or not by calculating p-values. From the derived gust trends, some recommendations are proposed for consideration in regard to revising the design wind speeds for calculating the wind loads on structures. In addition, the findings of the study are compared with gust wind speed trends in several other countries and also with IPCC 5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; assessment projections for New Zealand [1].&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The main findings of this research are summarised as follows:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The magnitude and frequency of wind gust showed negative (significant for some stations and seasons) trends.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;This result suggests that at this stage no extra multiplier is required to be applied to the New Zealand design wind speeds.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Additional analyses of the long-term wind gust trends at more stations across New Zealand are needed.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Reference&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;[1] Ministry for the Environment 2018. Climate Change Projections for New Zealand: Atmosphere Projections Based on Simulations from the IPCC Fifth Assessment, 2nd Edition. Wellington: Ministry for the Environment.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Farm households' levels of vulnerability to extreme weather events in South-Eastern Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (02) ◽  
pp. 17450-17463
Author(s):  
JN Obi ◽  
◽  
AA Enete ◽  
JO Munonye ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Farming Households

The impacts of climate change risks, risk management mechanisms, and the physical environment under which farm households operate play significant roles in poverty and hidden hunger dynamics in developing countries. Extreme weather events are most often triggers of changes in risk management, which also affect the capacity of households to absorb the resultant shocks. This paper based on primary data collected as part of a PhD dissertation in the Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, presents an analysis of farm households’ levels of vulnerability to extreme weather events in South-eastern Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 120male-and 120 female-headed farm households that constituted the sample for the study. Both structured interview schedule and focus group discussion guide were used to gather data from the respondents, which were analyzed using UNDP vulnerability index. Using household adaptive capacity approach, data were collected on human, economic and institutional capacity of farmers in coping with extreme weather events. Female-headed households were more vulnerable than their male-headed counterparts to the effect of extreme weather events with respect to some of the indicators such as farming income, years of formal education, farm size, land ownership status, number of extension contacts, access to weather information, access to remittance, membership of cooperative and assistance from National Emergency Management Agency in the area. Overall, using household adaptive capacity approach, the results of the gender-based vulnerability analysis showed male-headed farming households with a vulnerability index of 0.38 while the female-headed farming households, on the other hand, had vulnerability index of 0.68. Although female-headed farm households were more vulnerable than their male counterparts, the farmers were all generally highly vulnerable to the incidence of natural disasters because of low adaptive capacity. The study recommends that government and development partners with the responsibility of protecting the environment should be gender-sensitive and redirect more effort in mitigating the negative agricultural effects caused by extreme weather events, especially among female-headed farm households who are more vulnerable.

Operation Navajeevan: A Public-Private Partnership Model for Disaster Relief in Kozhikode, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-350
Author(s):  
Sonia Haris ◽  
Venugopalan Poovathumparambil ◽  
Naveen Anaswara ◽  
Samantha Noll ◽  
Aditi Ghatak-Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Chronic Medical Condition ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Partnership Model ◽  
Weather Events

AbstractIntroduction:In August 2018, India’s southern state of Kerala experienced its worst flooding in over a century. This report describes the relief efforts in Kozhikode, a coastal region of Kerala, where Operation Navajeevan was initiated.Sources:Data were collected from a centralized database at the command center in the District Medical Office as well as first-hand accounts from providers who participated in the relief effort.Observations:From August 15 through September 8, 2018, 36,846 flood victims were seen at 280 relief camps. The most common cause for presentation was exacerbation of an on-going chronic medical condition (18,490; 50.2%). Other common presentations included acute respiratory infection (7,451; 20.2%), traumatic injuries (3,736; 10.4%), and psychiatric illness (5,327; 14.5%).Analysis:The prevalence of chronic disease exacerbation as the primary presentation during Operation Navajeevan represents an epidemiologic shift in disaster relief in India. It is foreseeable that as access to health care improves in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and climate change increases the prevalence of extreme weather events around the world, that this trend will continue.

scholarly journals Societal Vulnerability to Impacts of Extreme Weather Events on Land Transport Infrastructure Societal Vulnerability to Impacts 

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
Maria Luskova ◽  
Michal Titko ◽  
Alan O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Multilevel Approach ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Vulnerability Indicators ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Selection Of

The paper is focused on understanding how failure of land transport infrastructure leads to societal vulnerability. It presents the multilevel approach to societal vulnerability measuring. The level of the societal vulnerability is expressed through the Vulnerability Index, which is calculated based on the vulnerability indicators. Identification and selection of those indicators are based on definition of vulnerability as a function of exposure, susceptibility to change and capacity to adapt to that change.

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