Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk (Dec 2024)
Exploring and analyzing disaster coupling characteristics at the regional scale: evidence from Hubei Province
Abstract
Disaster coupling can more easily lead to severe impacts. Existing studies on disasters have mostly focused on the regional distribution characteristics of individual disasters, neglecting the regional perspective of disaster coupling. This research paper addresses this gap by examining the coupling among three types of disasters (droughts, floods, and landslides) and their regional characteristics. To accurately represent the scope of these disasters, annual historical disaster data at the county level were utilized. The spatiotemporal distribution data of the three disasters were analyzed to determine the foundation of disaster coupling formation. Association rules were used to mine all possible disaster combinations in each county, which were then categorized into three disaster combination situations based on the types of different counties. Three types of disaster coupling were identified: chain, alternating, and compound, based on the formation process of disaster coupling. The disaster coupling existing in the disaster combinations was determined, and the characteristics of regional disaster coupling were further analyzed using quantitative and spatial distribution characteristics. In Hubei Province, chain-type disaster coupling primarily occurs in the western and eastern regions, while alternating-type disaster coupling may occur throughout the entire province, serving as the predominant type of disaster coupling in the central region. Furthermore, compound-type disaster coupling mainly occurs in western Hubei. It is not only related to independent disasters but also to single-type disaster coupling. This study reflects the characteristics of disaster coupling distribution in the region, making disaster prevention and control more targeted.
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