as global warming is becoming reality it will be more important to understand all of its consequences. yes, there is the growing water levels that will impact coastal regions/cities. there will be the changing weather patterns. also, these changing weather patterns will impact the spread of diseases (as people living in the US are probably well aware of since the spread of the west nile virus).
one impact by these changing weather patterns that I haven’t thought about so far was the impact on a country’s infrastructure and the transportation network. A report by the national research council outlines the impact of global warming on an already ailing US infrastructure:
- More heat waves, requiring load limits at hot-weather or high-altitude airports and causing thermal expansion of bridge joints and rail track deformities.- Rising sea levels and storm surges flooding coastal roadways, forcing evacuations, inundating airports and rail lines, flooding tunnels and eroding bridge bases.- More rainstorms, delaying air and ground traffic, flooding tunnels and railways, and eroding road, bridge and pipeline supports.- More frequent strong hurricanes, disrupting air and shipping service, blowing debris onto roads and damaging buildings.- Rising arctic temperatures thawing permafrost, resulting in road, railway and airport runway subsidence and potential pipeline failures.
with an infrastructure that is in dire need for an upgrade this couldn’t come at a worse time … although it might be a wake up call to spend some money in order to avoid other collapsing bridges.
the site of the national research council has a link to the full study.
Filed under: environment, mid to long term risk | Leave a Comment
Tags: global warming, infrastructure, national research council, transportation
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