Liu, B, Siu, YL, Mitchell, G et al. (1 more author) (2016) The danger of mapping risk from multiple natural hazards. Natural Hazards, 82 (1). pp. 139-153. ISSN 0921-030X
Abstract
In recent decades, society has been greatly affected by natural disasters (e.g. floods, droughts, earthquakes), losses and effects caused by these disasters have been increasing. Conventionally, risk assessment focuses on individual hazards, but the importance of addressing multiple hazards is now recognised. Two approaches exist to assess risk from multiple-hazards; the risk index (addressing hazards, and the exposure and vulnerability of people or property at risk) and the mathematical statistics method (which integrates observations of past losses attributed to each hazard type). These approaches have not previously been compared. Our application of both to China clearly illustrates their inconsistency. For example, from 31 Chinese provinces assessed for multi-hazard risk, Gansu and Sichuan provinces are at low risk of life loss with the risk index approach, but high risk using the mathematical statistics approach. Similarly, Tibet is identified as being at almost the highest risk of economic loss using the risk index, but lowest risk under the mathematical statistics approach. Such inconsistency should be recognised if risk is to be managed effectively, whilst the practice of multi-hazard risk assessment needs to incorporate the relative advantages of both approaches.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Natural Hazards. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2184-5 |
Keywords: | Multi-hazard risk assessment • Risk index • Mathematical statistics • Economic loss • Human life loss |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Geography (Leeds) > Centre for Spatial Analysis & Policy (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Mar 2016 15:55 |
Last Modified: | 14 Apr 2017 03:19 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2184-5 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s11069-016-2184-5 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:96016 |