Assessing Vulnerability to Extreme Storm Events and Sea-Level Rise Using Geographical Information System (GIS)

摘要: Significant uncertainties accompany forecasts of the timing, geographic scope, and intensity of the effects of global climate change. Although accelerated sea-level rise may cause major changes, these changes will occur relatively slowly allowing for some social adaptation to take place. Changing frequencies and intensities of extreme storm events, however, present a different and important challenge because of the potential for sudden, severe, and perhaps irreversible disruption to the environment and to social systems. Understanding the causes, types, and distributions of vulnerabilities of biophysical and social systems to these extreme events and understanding the ways in which people and institutions may respond to vulnerability will allow for more flexible and anticipatory planning. One tool that can be of significant use in identifying and assessing vulnerability to extreme storm events is the Geographic Information System (GIS). This paper illustrates the use of a GIS in assessing socioeconomic vulnerability of a coastal community in Massachusetts, Revere, to extreme storm events. Data on land use, coast line and estuaries, transportation, and socioeconomic indicators have been integrated and analyzed in a GIS context to produce indices of vulnerability for this community.