Tropical Storms and Mortality under Climate Change

Arbeitspapier

Extreme weather induced by climate change can have major consequences for human health. In this study, I quantify the effect of tropical storm frequency and severity on mortality using objective meteorological data and the universe of vital statistics records from a large developing country, Mexico. Using a measure of storm exposure that accounts for both windspeed dispersion and population density along the storm track, I project changes in past storm-related mortality under various scenarios of continued climate change, while holding population and income at current levels. I find that storm-related deaths would have risen under most climate change scenarios considered, with increases of as much as 52% or declines of as much as 10%, depending on the interplay between increasing storm severity and decreased frequency.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: GLO Discussion Paper ; No. 304

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health and Economic Development ; Demographic Economics: General ; Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
• Subject: tropical storms ; tropical cyclones ; hurricanes ; natural disasters ; human mortality ; human health ; climate change ; developing countries ; Latin America ; Mexico

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Pugatch, Todd
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Global Labor Organization (GLO)
• (where): Maastricht
• (when): 2019

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/191519
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET