GIS-Based Risk Assessment of Ecological Disasters in Jilin Province, Northeast China

ABSTRACT

Currently, studies on the ecological risk assessment mainly focus on problems of single eco-environments or some specific ecological problem, whereas less attention has been focused on regional ecological disasters under comprehensive analysis of natural, economic, and social factors. This study presents a methodology for risk assessment and regionalization of ecological disasters in Jilin Province, China, supported by a geographic information system (GIS) and technology of natural disaster risk assessment from the viewpoints of climatology, geography, disaster science, and environmental science. The risk assessment model for ecological disasters of Jilin Province is structured by using the Natural Disaster Risk Index method, Weighted Comprehensive Analysis, and Analytic Hierarchy Process. The contribution rate of every factor to the ecological disaster risk is assessed, and the regionalization maps of each of four factors (hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and emergency response and recovery capability) forming ecological disasters risk and the ecological disasters risk in Jilin Province are drawn based on GIS. The results from this study provide scientific reference in decision-making for ecological disaster prevention and are potentially useful for rebuilding and resuming of the eco-environment.

Key Words:

• ecological disasters
• risk assessment
• natural disaster risk
• ecological disaster risk index
• Jilin Province

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is supported by the 15th National Key Scientific and Technological Project under Grant No.2004BA528B-3-1, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.40871236, the National Key Technology R&D Program of China under Grant Nos.2006BAD16B04-2-2, 2007BAC29B04, 2008BAJ08B14, the 11th Five-Year Project Plan of the Science &Technology Innovation Platform Construction of Northeast Normal University, China and the National Grand Fundamental Research 973 Program of China under Grant No. 2009CB426305.

Notes

*The weight values of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and emergency response and recovery capability factors.