Application of the coastal hazard wheel for coastal multi-hazard assessment and management in the Guang-Fong-Hongkong-Macao greater bay area

Abstract

The coasts of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) are facing threats and challenges from rising sea levels, frequent extreme events and human intervention. In this study, the Coastal Hazard Wheel (CHW) was used to classify the coasts of GBA, assess its hazard change from 2010 to 2020, identify hazards hotspots and explore available coastal management options. The results show that the coastal types of GBA in 2010 and 2020 are consistent, with delta/low estuary island and hard rock slope as the main types. GBA is vulnerable to ecosystem disruption, saltwater intrusion, gradual inundation and flooding hazards. Compared with 2010, the high risk proportion of each hazard in 2020 decreased significantly, but the high risk of flooding increased slightly. All kinds of hazards are interdependent and influenced by each other. The Pearl River Estuary, the east bank of Yamen Waterway, the west bank of Huangmao Sea and Dapeng Bay show very high hazard vulnerability, and the flooding risk is the highest. Soft measures such as coastal zoning, tsunami warning systems, wetland restoration and hazard simulation are most widely used in coastal management. CHW is applicable to GBA’s coastal hazard vulnerability assessment, which provides a case study for coastal risk assessment of GBA and has certain reference significance for hazard management and sustainable development for the Bay Area.