Summary
Tropical cyclones widely affect livelihoods and the health of populations, and their impacts often last for years after the event. Characterizing the demographic, social, and vulnerability profiles of affected populations is essential for assessing health and other risks associated with future tropical cyclone events. Estimates of exposure to tropical cyclones are often regional rather than global and do not take into account the vulnerability of populations. Here, we combine annually local demographic estimates with tropical cyclone wind field estimates to build a global profile of populations exposed to tropical cyclones between 2002 and 2019. We find that approximately 560 million people are exposed annually and that the number of exposed individuals has increased across all hurricane intensities during the study period. The age distribution of exposed individuals has shifted away from children (under 5 years) towards the elderly (over 60 years) in recent years compared to the early 2000s. Populations exposed to tropical cyclones are socially poorer than non-exposed individuals in the same country, and this relationship is more pronounced for individuals exposed to higher intensity storms. By characterizing the vulnerability patterns of exposed populations, our findings can help inform mitigation strategies and assess the global burden and future risks of tropical cyclones.
Introduction
Tropical cyclones widely affect livelihoods and the health of populations, and their impacts often last for years after the event. It is important to characterize the demographic, social, and vulnerability profiles of populations exposed to cyclones to assess health and other risks associated with future tropical cyclone events. However, estimates of exposure to tropical cyclones are often regional rather than global and do not account for the vulnerability of populations. In this study, we integrated annually local demographic estimates with tropical cyclone wind field estimates to construct a global profile of populations exposed to tropical cyclones between 2002 and 2019.
Results
The study found that approximately 560 million people are exposed annually to tropical cyclones, and the number of exposed individuals has increased across all hurricane intensities during the study period. The age distribution of exposed individuals has shifted away from children (under 5 years) towards the elderly (over 60 years) in recent years compared to the early 2000s. The study also showed that populations exposed to tropical cyclones are socially poorer than non-exposed individuals in the same country, and this relationship is more apparent for individuals exposed to higher intensity storms.
Economic and Social Impacts
Tropical cyclones significantly impact the economy and society. They cause destruction of property and infrastructure, leading to job losses and disruption of economic activity. They also affect food security and public health, as they can cause shortages of food resources and the spread of diseases. Additionally, tropical cyclones also impact the environment, as they can cause water pollution and destroy natural areas.
Mitigation Strategies
Mitigating the impacts of tropical cyclones is vital. These strategies should include strengthening infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and enhancing public awareness of risks. These strategies should also focus on strengthening response and preparedness capabilities for hurricanes, including training medical teams and providing necessary medical aid. Furthermore, mitigation strategies should include promoting environmental sustainability and adapting to climate change, including protecting coastal areas and enhancing sustainable agriculture.
Assessment of Future Risks
Assessing future risks of tropical cyclones is critical for taking preventive actions. This assessment should include analyzing climate, demographic, and economic trends, estimating potential risks and their impacts on populations and infrastructure. Accurate predictive models for tropical cyclones should be developed, and early warning systems should be improved to enhance response and preparedness. Furthermore, future risk assessments should include analyzing the impact of climate change and adapting to it, identifying the most affected sectors, and developing appropriate adaptation strategies.
Conclusion
The study found that…
The study indicates that tropical cyclones have widespread effects on livelihoods and population health, and that the number of people exposed to cyclones has increased across all cyclone intensities during the studied period. The study also suggests that populations exposed to tropical cyclones are socially poorer than those not exposed in the same country, and that this relationship is more pronounced for those exposed to higher intensity storms. Based on the study’s recommendations, the results can be used to identify mitigation strategies and assess the global burden and future risks of tropical cyclones.
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