Identifying social responses to inundation disasters: A humanity–nature interaction perspective

Abstract

Non-technical abstract Through the global analysis of inundation disasters with regards to population and land elevation, we found that the largest number of people living in low-elevation land was in Asia. Population increase was also most rapid at these locations. Furthermore, through three case studies in Asia, we found that a critical land–water elevation difference was 1.5–2.0 m in relation to the prevention of disasters regarding groundwater and land as public goods, the protection of houses and buildings from tsunamis and the protection of temples from flooding. Technical abstract This paper investigates the relationship between social responses and inundation disasters in terms of human–nature interactions. Land–water elevation difference represents an important relationship between land use and access to water and safety. Global analysis of inundation disasters with regards to population and land elevation showed that the largest number of people living in areas where land elevation is below a couple of metres is found in Asia. Population increase was also most rapid at these locations. We conducted three case studies in Asia and found a threshold of the land–water elevation difference to be 1.5–2.0 m in relation to the prevention of disasters regarding groundwater and land as public goods, the protection of houses and buildings from tsunamis and the protection of temples from flooding. We note that a significant time lag could exist between the identification of the natural disaster and the social forces that drive social and regulatory changes. Social media summary Social responses should be regarded as important factors in inundation disasters.