Mapping Heatwave Socioeconomic Exposure in the Chinese Mainland for the Period of 2000–2019
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Mounting evidence suggests an increasing heatwave risk in Chinese mainland, posing significant threats to public health and the socioeconomic landscape. In a comprehensive analysis, considering both climate and socioeconomic factors, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population dynamics, we systematically evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution of heatwave socioeconomic exposure in Chinese mainland from 2000 to 2019, utilizing the heatwave hazard index (HHI) to synthesize heatwave intensity, frequency, and duration as climate factor. Results show that: (1) Heatwave exposure is pronounced in eastern China, particularly in Southeast (SE), North China (NC), and Southwest (SW) regions. From 2000 to 2019, heatwave exposure has shown an overall upward trend, with the most rapid escalation observed in SE, NC, and SW regions. Population exposure manifests as a clustered expansion pattern, while GDP exposure demonstrates a more centralized distribution. (2) Climatic factors exert the most significant influence on population exposure, while GDP predominantly impacts economic exposure. The combination of climate and socioeconomic factors contributes less to exposure rates, except in Northeast (NE) and Southwest (SW) regions where it impacts GDP exposure most. (3) Notably, high-risk hotspot cities include Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Tianjin, and Nanjing. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and mitigation strategies in these vulnerable areas.
Source: Atmosphere
Authors: Wei Wu, Qingsheng Liu, He Li, Chong Huang, Cheng Weiming
Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,728
OpenAlex ID: W4405942883