Spatio-temporal distribution of flood disasters and analysis of influencing factors in Africa

Chan-juan Li, Yuan-qing Chai, Lin-sheng Yang () and Hai-rong Li
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Chan-juan Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuan-qing Chai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lin-sheng Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hai-rong Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2016, vol. 82, issue 1, No 36, 731 pages

Abstract: Abstract To analyse inner- and inter-annual changes, disaster events of 55 countries in Africa from 1990 to 2014 recorded in the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) were recounted by year and month and were reorganised in five different regions. Thematic maps of flood disasters in Africa between 1990 and 2014 were drawn using ArcGIS 9.3 to research the spatial distribution patterns of average annual flood frequency, total deaths, total affected, and damage. There were eight natural and socio-economic indicators chosen to explore the main factors influencing the spatio-temporal distribution of flood disasters in Africa, including precipitation, ENSO, runoff, forest coverage rate, reservoir capacity, per capita GDP, population, and urbanisation rate. Studies show that seasonal changes of flood disasters in various regions of Africa, except North Africa, are closely related to precipitation. Annual flood frequencies, from 1990 to 2014, showed a fluctuating upward trend and were in good agreement with ENSO years. In terms of spatial distributions, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania in eastern Africa, Nigeria in western Africa, and Libya, and Sudan in northern Arica are flood-prone countries, and main factors influencing spatial disparities include runoff, per capita GDP, population, and urbanisation rate.

Keywords: Africa; Flood disaster; Spatio-temporal distribution; Influencing factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-016-2181-8

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