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Integrating social vulnerability into high-resolution global flood risk mapping

Author

Listed:
  • Sean Fox

    (University of Bristol)

  • Felix Agyemang

    (University of Manchester)

  • Laurence Hawker

    (University of Bristol)

  • Jeffrey Neal

    (University of Bristol
    Fathom)

Abstract

High-resolution global flood risk maps are increasingly used to inform disaster risk planning and response, particularly in lower income countries with limited data or capacity. However, current approaches do not adequately account for spatial variation in social vulnerability, which is a key determinant of variation in outcomes for exposed populations. Here we integrate annual average exceedance probability estimates from a high-resolution fluvial flood model with gridded population and poverty data to create a global vulnerability-adjusted risk index for flooding (VARI Flood) at 90-meter resolution. The index provides estimates of relative risk within or between countries and changes how we understand the geography of risk by identifying ‘hotspots’ characterised by high population density and high levels of social vulnerability. This approach, which emphasises risks to human well-being, could be used as a complement to traditional population or asset-centred approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean Fox & Felix Agyemang & Laurence Hawker & Jeffrey Neal, 2024. "Integrating social vulnerability into high-resolution global flood risk mapping," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47394-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47394-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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