Abstract:
Climate change will have significant impacts on human populations and the natural environment.
One key concern for human populations is the increased risk for meteorological extremes such as
floods, droughts, extended heat waves, and severe events. Assessing vulnerability is important so
that adaptation and mitigation techniques can be implemented to protect vulnerable populations.
Although it is vital to evaluate vulnerability at large scales to cover populations, it is also
important to apply it at city levels. Vulnerability to climate change can vary significantly across
short distances and visualizing these changes allow governments to better prepare adaptation
techniques. One way of assessing vulnerability is through a climate vulnerability index (CVI). In
this, total vulnerability for Muncie, IN is assessed through a CVI. Variables such as percentage
of green space, median income, existence of flood plains, and vulnerable populations are applied
to Muncie at a block group level. The CVI encompasses the composite scores of each variable
for every block group. Composite scores for the variables are dependent on classification method
and the effects the variable has on vulnerability. The variables were separated into classes
through statistical classification methods and justification is provided. Once all variables are
scored, they will be added to create the CVI. Results showed that the south and northeast
portions of the city were the most vulnerable, while the northwest portions were the least
vulnerable. Utilizing fine-scale CVIs can lend itself to easily identifying the most at risk
populations within a city, and thus, let the local government utilize resources targeted at the
people who need it most.
