Tropical cyclone research in Asia : Hong Kong and Macao

Abstract

Due to climate change, the emergence of extreme weather has affected the global economic activities, human life, and the environmental sustainability. Tropical cyclones are considered as notable destructive weather systems, especially in coastal areas. This study aims to investigate the common features of the most destructive and devastating tropical cyclones in Hong Kong and Macao. A total of three representative tropical cyclones were selected for each city. The considered tropical cyclones were analyzed in terms of different attributes, including the year of occurrence, maximum wind speed, lowest pressure, total deaths, and total monetary losses. The results from the conducted analysis indicate that the costliest tropical cyclones were recorded in Hong Kong and Macao. In particular, the damages caused by typhoons Hato and Mangkhut totalled over $10 billion. Furthermore, this study discusses the need for the development of climate change mitigation strategies as well as increasing the public awareness regarding climate change and its consequences. The findings from this study can be further used by the relevant stakeholders to address the climate change effects on tropical cyclone occurrence as well as to design adaptation and resilience strategies against tropical cyclones in the forthcoming years.