云南寒潮与昆明准静止锋的气候关联性分析

利用云南122个气象测站1961-2014年1-12月逐日平均气温资料和日最低气温资料及1961-2010年云贵高原地面逐日观测数据,统计分析了云南寒潮与昆明准静止锋间气候关联性。结果表明:(1)云南寒潮频次偏多区域主要位于昆明准静止锋多年平均位置的东侧(即锋后)。(2)云南寒潮频次与昆明准静止锋频次的年代际变化基本是相反的,近50年寒潮频次减少,在1985年附近,寒潮频数由偏多期转为了偏少期;昆明准静止锋频次近50年为增加,在2002年,静止锋频数由偏少期转为了偏多期。年际变化存在显著正相关关系,特别是冬季,即寒潮爆发偏多(少)时,昆明准静止锋也偏多(少),这种关系在静止锋的东侧(锋后)更为密切。(3)云南寒潮频次与昆明准静止锋平均经向位置年代际变化基本一致。近50年寒潮频次减少,静止锋平均经向位置略偏西。年际变化存在显著负相关关系,即寒潮爆发偏多(少)时,昆明准静止锋平均经向位置偏西(东),这种关系在静止锋西侧(锋前)比东侧(锋后)更为密切。(4)寒潮移动与静止锋的移动有着密切联系,即影响云南寒潮位置偏西时,昆明准静止锋位置相应偏西,反之,偏东。影响云南寒潮强度与静止锋位置存在正相关,即变温(或温度距平)越大(小),静止锋越偏东(西)。     

基于inpolygon的区域外闪电剔除方法研究

闪电资料的完整性、准确性是雷电灾害风险评估的基础,将影响雷电灾害风险评估结果的准确性,并影响一系列依赖于闪电资料的科学研究。探究雷电地域分布时,区域外的数据不影响探究准确性,但探究雷电时间分布时,只有区域内的数据是有效的。针对用传统方法统计经纬度跨度形成的矩形区域内的闪电频次来代表某地区闪电频次出现的严重误差,首创以省市县地理底图为边界,应用inpolygon函数方法,简便快速地区分统计区域内外闪电数据,大幅提高闪电原始资料准确性。以江苏省为例,对比用传统疆界边缘经纬度所围矩形区域和用新方法统计江苏省边界所围区域的闪电频数,研究结果表明:用新方法统计的江苏省2012年的省内闪电数据占用传统矩形区域法统计的50.46%。也即,传统方法统计的2012年江苏省闪电频数误差高达98.18%。通过剔除省外闪电,得到省内真实有效的闪电频数数据,大大提高了雷电灾害风险评估和雷暴分布规律分析的准确性和可靠性。     

黑龙江省夏季雨日变化及前期环流特征

利用1961-2017年黑龙江省62个台站的雨日资料,采用小波分析、相关系数与趋势系数等方法分析,研究夏季不同级别雨日的气候变化趋势.结果表明,黑龙江省夏季各级雨日变化趋势暴雨、大雨以上日数呈现略增加趋势,而中雨和小雨以上日数呈现略减少的趋势;夏季降水日数平均分布,各级别以上的日数分布中心基本是一致的。用黑龙江省夏季大雨以上日数做代表进行分析,小波分析表明存在20a(年)左右的年代际变化周期,还有9a左右、6a左右和3a左右的年际变化周期;前期北半球500hPa(百帕)环流场特征,初冬季由极地到太平洋距平场"-+-"形式,夏季大雨以上日数易偏多,反之,排列为"+-+"形式,夏季大雨日数易偏少。     

我国北方沙尘暴与植被覆盖度关系研究

利用NOAA/AVHRR和旬归一化植被指数NDVI数据,计算了1983-2000年中国北方13省市区的植被覆盖度,分析了这些地区植被覆盖度的时间变化趋势和空间分布规律,研究了中国北方沙尘暴与植被覆盖度之间的关系。结果表明:我国北方沙尘灾害频次与植被覆盖度有很好的对应关系,1983-2000年的18年间,我国北方大部分地区植被覆盖度增加,这段时期沙尘灾害频次总体呈降低趋势,其中20世纪80年代我国北方大部分地区植被覆盖度增加,这一时期我国北方沙尘暴发生频数下降;20世纪90年代,我国北方大部分区域植被覆盖度呈下降趋势,特别是华北和西北干旱与半干旱地区,下降趋势显著,这一时期我国北方沙尘暴发生频数在减少中有回升趋势。研究结果表明,植被覆盖度是影响中国北方沙尘暴频次变化的重要因素。     

湘江流域洪涝灾害与降水的关系

洪涝灾害是中国最为严重的自然灾害之一，给湘江流域（位于长江中下游）带来了众多的人员伤亡与巨大的经济损失，成为该区域可持续发展的严重障碍。以4—8月份总降水量和大雨强度（日降水量大于25mm）以上降水的频次为指标，分析了湘江流域近50年（1951—1998年）的降水与灾害严重程度的关系。研究表明：（1）湘江流域洪涝灾害程度在1981年前后发生了突变，呈现出显著上升趋势；根据其年代际波动特征可分为3个阶段：即1951—1965年的波动加剧阶段，1965—1973年的波动减轻阶段以及1973—1998年的波动加剧阶段；（2）近50年来湘江流域4—8月份总降水量和大雨强度以上降水频次没有明显的趋势变化，但其存在年代际尺度上的波动，可分为4段：即1951—1967年的波动减少阶段，1967—1977年的波动增加阶段，1977—1992年的波动减少阶段以及1992—1998年的波动增加阶段；（3）自每年4月1日开始，每5天统计一次该时段内的大雨强度以上总降水量，结果表明，自1980年以来，大雨强度以上降雨在时间上有向5、6月份集中的趋势；（4）随着社会经济财富的增加，洪涝灾害在加剧，人类对洪涝适应性对策（包括消极的经济欠发展行动和积极的兴修水利策略）在一定程度上可以缓解洪涝灾害。     

云南滑坡泥石流灾害及其与降水特征的关系

利用2001-2005年云南滑坡泥石流灾害资料,分析了近5年来云南滑坡泥石流分布与演变的特点及其与云南降水、大雨、暴雨之间的关系.研究结果表明,在该时段云南滑坡泥石流灾害总体分布表现出西多东少,西北多东南少的趋势;滑坡泥石流灾害高发区与暴雨中心有很好的对应关系,其活动存在明显的年际变化特点,并且各个区域又有自身的演变规律.在时空分布上滇西北及滇西南是活动最频繁的区域;滑坡泥石流灾害具有明显的月际变化特征,高峰期集中在6-8月;滑坡泥石流灾害发生次数与年降水量、年暴雨次数及年大雨次数有着很好的对应关系;大气环流异常对滑坡泥石流灾害发生数量也有着明显的影响.     

中国技术灾害的时序变化与区域差异

近年来,由于生产的全球化、工业水平的迅速提高、技术系统的复杂化和规模化,以及社会结构急剧变化,我国技术灾害的发生频次增多,强度加剧,经济损失趋于上升.技术灾害继自然灾害之后,已逐渐发展为威胁我国人民生命安全和生存环境的主要灾种.基于技术灾害数据库,从致灾因子多度、风险频数、相对损失强度和综合风险指数等4个方面对中国技术灾害的时序变化和区域差异进行了分析与探讨,以期加深对中国技术灾害的系统认识,并为中国技术灾害的风险管理提供依据.     

利用信息扩散模式对安徽及华东地区地震的风险分析

本文利用信息扩散模式,分别从年地震频次和年最大震级两个方面对安徽及华东地区的地震风险进行评估.结果显示:安徽地区ML≥3.0地震,年频次4次以上,约两年一遇;年发生ML≥3.9地震,则3年可能遇一次.而华东地区ML≥4.0地震,年频次4次以上,大约3年一遇;年发生ML≥4.9的地震,则可能2年遇一次.     

1994～1999年西北太平洋热带气旋活动时空分异研究

采用西北太平洋热带气旋年鉴数据(1949～1999年),进行了统计分析,然后以每次热带气旋的中心位置资料,建立起1.×1.经纬度的热带气旋路径频数分布图,从季节、年际变化全面分析了西北太平洋热带气旋的时空变化规律.结果表明(1)1949年到1999年,西北太平洋热带气旋活动频繁,20世纪60年代是热带旋多发期,70年代后期以后逐渐减少;而从年内的变化来看,7,8,9,m,这4个月热带气旋发生的次数占绝大多数;(2)热带气旋频数的分布大体以中国南海地区、菲律宾群岛以及马里亚纳群岛附近这3个密集区为中心,向各个方向呈辐射状减少;(3)热带气旋频数空间分布存在着明显的季节变化,而年际变化不明显.     

我国暴雨极端事件的气候变化特征

利用我国东部２５站４５ａ大一暴雨日数、暴雨日数、１ｄ最大降水量资料,分析了我国暴雨频数及一日最大降水强度时空分布特征．分析表明,８０年代后全国暴雨极端事件乎均趋势为：除华北外出现频数明显上升,强度增大．异常年份出现频数变化不明显．大暴雨频数存在１０ａ左右周期．     

Cholera in Sudan: An account of an epidemic in a refugee camp in eastern Sudan, May-June 1985

In 1985 cholera has been a serious problem in the horn of Africa, particularly affecting the many famine victims and refugees in that region. In this paper the history of cholera in Africa is briefly summarized, as is the background to the current refugee situation in eastern Sudan. A cholera epidemic involving 1,175 cases in two adjacent refugee camps in eastern Sudan is described. In this epidemic there were thirteen inpatient deaths and thirty-eight known home deaths from cholera. The management of the epidemic is described in detail. Overall an average of 8 1. of intravenous fluid was used per case, a higher figure than was anticipated, probably because of the unexpected degree of vomiting and the shortage of trained nursing staff.
The relationship between cholera and malnutrition is explored and hypochlorhydria is suggested as the main reason for the increased susceptibility to cholera among malnourished populations. It was observed that severely malnourished adults and children appeared to nave less severe diarrhoea with their cholera, presumably because of reduced mucosal surface area and poor enterocyte function. Finally possible means of aborting cholera epidemics are discussed.     

A retrospective statistical review of deaths owing to migration through the southeasternmost land borders of the European Union,Greece 2000–14

The land borders of Evros, Greece, have been a common entry point for undocumented migrants on their way to Europe through Turkey. Adverse conditions, however, have resulted in many human casualties over the years. On the Greek side, 334 cadavers were retrieved between 2000 and 2014. This study provides a detailed forensic account of the humanitarian disaster in Evros to create an official scientific record of the situation. It showcases the gravity of the global issue of migration relating to health and mortality, and encourages communication and continual improvement of the approach and patterns of practices surrounding the subject. A retrospective statistical research review was conducted of border‐related fatalities between 2000 and 2014, assessing the age and gender of victims, the cause of death, the location of bodies, identification rates, and country of origin. Age ranged generally from 24 to 29 years, but infants and children were among the deceased.     

Complexity,continuity and change: livelihood resilience in the Darfur region of Sudan

Darfur farming and pastoralist livelihoods are both adaptations to the environmental variability that characterises the region. This article describes this adaptation and the longer‐term transformation of these specialised livelihoods from the perspective of local communities. Over several decades farmers and herders have experienced a continuous stream of climate, conflict and other shocks, which, combined with wider processes of change, have transformed livelihoods and undermined livelihood institutions. Their well‐rehearsed specialist strategies are now combined with new strategies to cope. These responses help people get by in the short term but risk antagonising not only their specialist strategies but also those of others. A combination of factors has undermined the former integration between farming and pastoralism and their livelihood institutions. Efforts to build resilience in similar contexts must take a long‐term view of livelihood adaptation as a specialisation, and consider the implications of new strategies for the continuity and integration of livelihood specialisations.     

The cultural politics of mining and natural disaster in Indonesia: by fire and sword

Natural disasters are inevitably the outcome of cultural agonisms. The cultural politics of natural disasters are shaped by competing claims and conceptions of ‘nature’. Recent disasters in Indonesia are directly linked to these contending conceptions and the ways in which different social groups imagine risk and reward. The Sidoarjo volcanic mudflow of 2006 represents a volatile and violent exemplar of contending cultural and economic claims. Like other disasters in Indonesia and elsewhere in the developing world, this ‘natural’ disaster is characterised by differing conceptions of ‘nature’ as cultural tradition, divine force, and natural resource. A new extractive project in East Java is exhibiting similar economic and cultural agonisms, particularly around the notion of development, environment, self‐determination, and tradition. This paper examines the ‘disputes over meaning’ associated with natural disasters in contemporary societies, and the ways in which they are related to human culture, social organisation, and hierarchical systems of violence.     

Reflections on 40 years of Disasters, 1977–2017

This reflection, based on a keynote address to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Disasters on 14 September 2017, begins by considering some of the prevailing assumptions that existed at the time of the journal's creation. Next is a summary of significant milestones during the past 40 years, covering major global trends, changing disaster impacts, and key developments in disaster risk management. Contrasting approaches in the first and fourth decade of the journal's history are then followed by examples of changes in terminology in the disaster field as an indication of shifting values. The paper goes on to explore the context of 2017, with observations of problem areas such as the loss of knowledge, failures to tackle the root causes of disasters, shortfalls in international assistance, and some negative attitudes. It closes by evaluating some current positive occurrences, including a reduction in casualties, sharing of experience, technological advances, and dramatic improvements in disaster warning.     

Risk communication in emergency response to a simulated extreme flood

Risk communication in flood incident management can be improved through developing hydrometeorological and engineering models used as tools for communicating risk between scientists and emergency management professionals. A range of such models and tools was evaluated by participating flood emergency managers during a 4-day, real-time simulation of an extreme event in the Thamesmead area in the Thames estuary close to London, England. Emergency managers have different communication needs and value new tools differently, but the indications are that a range of new tools could be beneficial in flood incident management. Provided they are communicated large model uncertainties are not necessarily unwelcome among flood emergency managers. Even so they are cautious about sharing the ownership of weather and flood modelling uncertainties.     

Fiji, land of tropical cyclones and hurricanes: A case study of agricultural rehabilitation

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes have a severe impact on the social and economic activities of affected communities. For small island nations in the Pacific region, the effects can be devastating because of their smallness. FQi and several other countries in the region are vulnerable to such disasters as they are situated in the zone where cyclones occur frequently.
During the last decade, the frequency of natural disasters and their adverse impact on die economic and social development of small nations like Fiji, has aroused awareness mat relief efforts must go beyond immediate "mopping up" operations to those which contribute to attaining longer term benefits through reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The paper outlines the 1985 agricultural rehabilitation program and discusses related issues and problems.     

Tsunami survivors' perspectives on vulnerability and vulnerability reduction: evidence from Koh Phi Phi Don and Khao Lak, Thailand

This paper presents the results of primary research with 40 survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in two communities: Khao Lak (n=20) and Koh Phi Phi Don (n=20), Thailand. It traces tsunami survivors' perceptions of vulnerability, determines whether residents felt that the tsunami affected different communities differently, identifies the populations and sub-community groups that survivors distinguished as being more vulnerable than others, highlights community-generated ideas about vulnerability reduction, and pinpoints a range of additional vulnerability reduction actions. Tsunami survivors most consistently identified the 'most vulnerable' community sub-populations as women, children, the elderly, foreigners, and the poor. In Khao Lak, however, respondents added 'Burmese migrants' to this list, whereas in Koh Phi Phi Don, they added 'Thai Muslims'. Results suggest that the two case study communities, both small, coastal, tourism-dominated communities no more than 100 kilometres apart, have differing vulnerable sub-groups and environmental vulnerabilities, requiring different post-disaster vulnerability reduction efforts.     

The ethical contours of research in crisis settings: five practical considerations for academic institutional review boards and researchers

The number of research studies in the humanitarian field is rising. It is imperative, therefore, that institutional review boards (IRBs) consider carefully the additional risks present in crisis contexts to ensure that the highest ethical standards are upheld. Ethical guidelines should represent better the specific issues inherent to research among populations grappling with armed conflict, disasters triggered by natural hazards, or health‐related emergencies. This paper seeks to describe five issues particular to humanitarian settings that IRBs should deliberate and on which they should provide recommendations to overcome associated challenges: staged reviews of protocols in acute emergencies; flexible reviews of modification requests; addressing violence and the traumatic experiences of participants; difficulties in attaining meaningful informed consent among populations dependent on aid; and ensuring reviews are knowledgeable of populations' needs. Considering these matters when reviewing protocols will yield more ethically sound research in humanitarian settings and hold researchers accountable to appropriate ethical standards.