The Impact of Climate on Changes in the Spatial Distribution of China's Population Since 2000

• In Event: 41065 - Population and Environment

Abstract

Climate conditions have a great influence on the choice of human settlement. In human history, the climate has experienced several cycles of change, including relatively cold and dry periods and relatively warm and humid periods. Existing studies have confirmed that this cyclical change has a close impact on the total population, spatial distribution, and even the development of productivity in corresponding periods. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, large populations migrated to cities, scientific and technological advancements accelerated, and humans increasingly relied on urban spaces and industrial products to mitigate the adverse effects of climate on living environments. In China, since the reform and opening-up policy, especially after entering the 21st century, rapid economic growth, rising living standards, and the relaxation of household registration policies have significantly enhanced people's ability to freely choose their place of residence. Against this background, this study focuses on examining the impact of climate characteristics and climate change trends on the spatial distribution of China's population. Key climate characteristics include temperature and precipitation, along with factors such as sunshine duration, relative humidity, and evaporation. Based on the GIS platform, this study uses several spatial analysis methods to comprehensively examine the relationship between the changes in China's population spatial distribution and regional climate characteristics.

Author

• Chen Chen, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences