Journal of Geographical Sciences >
Major natural disasters and their spatio-temporal variation in the history of China
Received date: 2012-03-10
Revised date: 2012-05-31
Online published: 2012-12-15
Based on historical documents and records this paper analyzes the characteristics of frequency and distribution of major disasters that took place in the history of China. The findings show that occurrences of different types of disasters varied and spatial pattern at provincial level are significantly different as well. The results also indicate that there is a strong relationship between type of disasters and spatial distribution and that the spatial pattern of losses was not the same as that of the frequency. The reasons are: (1) the hazard-formative environments which, to a large extent, determine the spatial pattern of the disasters are significantly different; (2) the losses caused by natural disasters were closely related to the concentration of economy and population. Number of deaths was usually large in areas where agriculture, culture and business were relatively developed. The spatial pattern of disaster losses is an evitable result of uneven economic development in the history of China.
Key words： natural disasters; spatial pattern; historical period; China
LIU Yi, YANG Yu, LI Li . Major natural disasters and their spatio-temporal variation in the history of China[J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2012 , 22(6) : 963 -976 . DOI: 10.1007/s11442-012-0976-4
Cao Shuji, 2001. Population History of China (Book 5: Qing Dynasty). Shanghai: Fudan University Press. (in Chinese)
Chen Yexin, 2002. On the records of natural calamities in Hanshu and Houhanshu. Journal of Historiography, 107(3): 43-48. (in Chinese)
Cheng Guodong, Wang Genxu, 2006. Changing trend of drought and drought disaster in Northwest China and countermeasures. Earth Science Frontiers, 13(1): 3-14. (in Chinese)
Gao Jianguo, 1992. Hopeful conduct of historic disaster data in the disaster reduction at present. Journal of Catastrophology, 7(2): 79-83. (in Chinese)
Gong Shengsheng, 2003. Changes of the temporal-spatial distribution of epidemic disasters in 770BC-AD1911 China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 58(6): 870-878. (in Chinese)
Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 1988. Chronicle of the Natural Disasters and Agricultural Policies in Historical China. Beijing: Agriculture Press. (in Chinese)
Jiang Fengqing, Zhu Cheng, Mu Guijin et al., 2002. Recent magnification of flood and drought calamities in Xinjiang: An analysis of anthropogenetic effects. Acta Geographica Sinica, 57(1): 57-66. (in Chinese)
Li Bingyuan, Li Juzhang, Wang Jianjun, 1996. Areal association of natural hazard in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 51(1): 1-11. (in Chinese)
Li Jingbao, 1998. A study on the features and causes of the flood disasters in Dongting Lake plain in 1996. Acta Geographica Sinica, 58(2): 166-173. (in Chinese)
Li Ying, Chen Lianshou, Zhang Shengjun, 2004. Statistical characteristics of tropical cyclone making landfalls on China. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 20(1): 14-21. (in Chinese)
Liu Xing, 1999. A History of Calamities in Xinjiang. Urumqi: Xinjiang People’s Publishing House. (in Chinese)
Liu Yanhua, Li Juzhang, Zhao Yuelong, 1995. Study on regional characteristics of China's recent natural disaster degree. Geographical Research, 14(3): 14-25. (in Chinese)
Ma Zongjin, 1994. The Momentous Natural Disaster and Reduction Action (General Remarks). Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Ren Luchuan, 1999. Advance in risk analysis for regional natural disasters. Advance in Earth Sciences, 14(3): 242-246. (in Chinese)
Shi Peijun, 1996. Theory on disaster science and disaster dynamics. Journal of Natural Disasters, 5(4): 6-14. (in Chinese)
Shi Peijun, 2002. Theory on disaster science and disaster dynamics. Journal of Natural Disasters, 11(3): 1-9. (in Chinese)
Song Zhenghai, 1992. Chronicle of Great Natural Disasters and Abnormal Phenomena in Ancient China. Guangzhou: Guangzhou Education Press. (in Chinese)
Wang Jing’ai, Shi Peijun, Wang Ping et al., 2006. Spatio-temporal Pattern of Natural Disasters in China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)
Wang Jing’ai, Shi Peijun, Zhu Ji, 1994. A research on regional distribution of major natural hazards in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 49(1): 19-26. (in Chinese)
Wang Jing’ai, Sun Heng, Xu Wei et al., 2002. Spatio-temporal change of drought disasters in recent 50 years in China. Journal of Natural Disasters, 11(2): 1-6. (in Chinese)
Wang Zheng, Zhang Piyuan, Liu Xiaolei, 1995. Distribution characteristics of natural disasters in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 50(3): 248-255. (in Chinese)
Wu Dehua, 1992. Discussion on famine in the Republic of China. Journal of Wuhan University (Social Science), (3): 112-118. (in Chinese)
Xia Mingfang, 2000. Natural disaster and rural society in the Republic of China. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. (in Chinese)
Xu Houde, 1995. Discussion on study of disaster history in China. Journal of Catastrophology, 10(1): 18-21. (in Chinese)
Xu Shiyuan, Wang Jun, Shi Chun et al., 2006. Research of the natural disaster risk on coastal cities. Acta Geographica Sinica, 61(2): 127-138. (in Chinese)
Yang Guishan, Shi Yafeng, 1999. Major environmental changes and hazards and strategy of damage-mitigation in the coastal area of China. Journal of Natural Disasters, 8(2): 13-20. (in Chinese)
Yuan Lin, 1994. Northwestern China’s History of Disaster and Famine. Lanzhou: Gansu People’s Press. (in Chinese)
Zhang Piyuan, Gong Gaofa, 1998. Some characteristics of climatic fluctuations in China since 16th century. Acta Geographica Sinica, 58(2): 166-173. (in Chinese)
Zhou Chenghu, Pei Tao, Li Quanlin et al., 2003. Research on spatial pattern and temporal-spatial migration model of strong earthquakes in China and its adjacent areas. Earth Sciences-Journal of China University of Geosciences, 28(3): 306-314. (in Chinese)
/
| 〈 |
|
〉 |