Population exposure disparities between residential and working areas during a cold wave event in Changchun, China

• Published in: Applied geography (Sevenoaks) 2024-11, Vol.172, p.103433, Article 103433
• Main Authors: Xu, Hongchao, Zeng, Peng, Sun, Fengyun, Zhao, Hongyu, Che, Yue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Changchun; Cold exposure; Residential area; Social disparity; Working area
• ISSN: 0143-6228
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2024.103433

Global warming has increased extreme weather events. While the impact of cold waves on humans remains significant, corresponding research is limited. Therefore, the cold exposure risk in residential and working areas of Changchun, China, during a cold wave event was investigated, and geographically weighted regression analysis was used to study the exposure disparities among cold-sensitive populations. Significant differences in cold exposure risk were found between residential and working areas. Cold exposure levels increased with the degree of urbanization. In the first ring, the CEI for residential areas reached 1.82, and for working areas, it was 1.85, indicating the highest exposure risk. Peripheral areas (fourth ring) exhibited much lower exposure risks. In residential areas, low-rent housing residents and women had overexposure rates of 98% and 62%, respectively. In working areas, workers without toilet facilities and unemployed individuals had overexposure rates of 21% and 39%, respectively. These findings highlight the disparities in cold exposure among different regions and social groups during cold waves, providing crucial scientific evidence for urban planning and public health policy development. •Employed multiple data sources, including Landsat 8 LST and census data, to assess cold exposure risk.•Analyzed cold exposure risks in residential and working areas within Changchun's inner four rings.•Assessed health risks due to cold waves, focusing on vulnerable populations.•Cold exposure risks were significantly higher in the central urban areas compared to the peripheral regions.•HVG 1 and PVG 4 faced higher cold exposure risks in residential and working areas, respectively.