Spatial differences in vegetation damage under typhoon hazards: A case study of a coastal urban district

Coastal urban ecosystems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disturbance and damage due to the escalating frequency and intensity of typhoons. This study employed an integrated approach of remote sensing analysis and ground-based surveys to systematically assess the damage patterns and spatial heterogeneity of urban vegetation in the Jiangdong New District (Haikou, China) following super typhoon events. The results indicate that tree community diversity, measured by the Shannon index, was significantly and positively correlated with vegetation damage severity (p < 0.001, r = 0.496). Green space patch characteristics were positively associated with the extent of storm damage. In contrast, building height and landscape aggregation index showed negative correlations with damage severity. Approximately 56.4 % of the vegetated areas exhibited a declining trend in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Human activity intensity and the magnitude of vegetation decrease were significantly positively correlated in northeastern wetlands and negatively correlated in the southeastern tree nurseries. Relying solely on wind-resistant tree species is insufficient to develop a resilient ecosystem. Instead, heterogeneity in community structure and urban spatial layout are critical in increasing tree resistance to wind disturbances. These findings emphasize the need to consider landscape characteristics and human activity patterns along urban environmental when developing adaptation strategies for coastal cities to improve the resilience of urban green infrastructure to extreme climate events.