Vulnerability and Risk Factors due to Tropical Cyclones in Coastal Cities of Baja California Sur, Mexico

Abstract

Coastal cities have seen an unprecedented growth with regional settlements due to development activities; that is why measures are needed to mitigate risk of adverse events such as tropical cyclones. Baja California Sur, a state known as a relevant ecological and tourist region, includes destinations such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, impacted yearly by tropical cyclones, so it is important to design contingency plans and provide available information to the residents. Los Cabos municipality has the highest population growth rate and its inhabitants are more susceptible to adverse events; despite this, there were no indicators of social and ecological vulnerability to risk effects of tropical cyclones. The objective of this research is to calculate the socio-environmental vulnerability of households through an index to identify risk factors. We have obtained a classification according to levels of vulnerability, and the results have shown that 74% of the households are high on the vulnerability scale, 21% of households are moderately vulnerable and only the remaining 5% of households are less vulnerable. In conclusion, the devastating effects of hydrometeorological events were mainly due to a lack of knowledge regarding such events among inhabitants.

Integrated Runoff-Storm Surge Flood Hazard Mapping Associated with Tropical Cyclones in the Suburbs of La Paz, Baja California Sur, México

“…Summer rains tend to be of great intensity and short duration, especially in August and September [41], due to the approach of tropical cyclones to the southern part of the Baja California Peninsula [42][43][44]. La Paz is also a municipality that is one of the most frequently impacted by tropical cyclones, with a return period of 5.6 years for category 1 hurricanes (according to the scale Saffir-Simpson) [27,45].…”

Community Perception and Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal Areas of Mexico

“…Land use is mainly destined for tourism infrastructure, crop and livestock fields and a great diversity of coastal ecosystems (Figure 2). Tourism is the primary source of income and economic growth in several coastal states in Mexico, especially in Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean Sea [10] and in Baja California Sur, on the Pacific Ocean coast [19]. Mexico is also recognized as one of the countries with the most significant economic benefits provided by mangroves worldwide [16].…”

“…The Mexican coast is extremely vulnerable to the annual impact of tropical cyclones and storms of polar origin (known locally as 'Nortes'). Strong winds, rainfall, intense waves and storm surges are effects associated with these natural phenomena that cause beach erosion, coastal flooding on low-lying areas and impacts on biodiversity and the functionality of coastal ecosystems [19,[39][40][41]. The consequences are aggravated by climate change, loss of coastal vegetation due to land-use change, deforestation and increasing rates of human development in the coastal zone.…”

“…They perceive the effects of the reduction of the forest area due to land-use changes, the decrease of fishing activity due to changes in sea conditions, the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, the increase of droughts and the reduction of ecotourism activities due to changes in beaches [58]. However, a high level of socio-ecological vulnerability to tropical cyclones has also been found in Baja California Sur due to insufficient knowledge among the inhabitants regarding these hydrometeorological events that annually threaten the region [19].…”

“…Nevertheless, there is much to be completed regarding adaptive capacity to move from planning to implementing adaptation measures [11,19,20]. A key development challenge is that the poorest and most vulnerable societies are the least able to cope with the threats of climate change [21].…”