Airport Climate Adaptation and Resilience (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 33-44
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From page 33... ...
34 IntroductIon This chapter details the general physical, business, security, and financial risks to airports, as well as the various types of climate change resilience and adaptation activities being undertaken, including ways for an individual airport to identify and prioritize its own risks, financing mechanisms, and ways airport climate adaptation and resilience is incorporated into planning and organizational decision making. A brief discussion of climate change science is presented first to aid understanding of the climate risks discussed in more depth later.
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35 to a given airport depends on the airport's location. Broad, regional projections for climate variables, and a discussion of their relevance to transportation, are available for each region of the United States ("Regional Climate Effects .
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36 These are planned approaches to adaptation, which contrast with the dallas/Fort Worth International Airport example of what can be termed "autonomous" adaptation, wherein major investments in snow removal equipment were made without reference to the current climate modeling results that suggests more severe winter storms are likely. The NRC notes that planned climate change adaptation is essentially a risk management exercise (NRC 2010)
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37 Increases in storms can close airports diverting flights, their passengers, and airline assets to other locations and carrying a substantial hourly cost, sometimes in the millions of dollars. Impact of Temperature Change on Airport Operations Increases in the number of hot days at an airport can necessitate additional ground cooling, requiring investment in upgrades to gate-based cooling systems.
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38 such as planning, engineering, and environment management reviewed and modified design criteria based on their understanding of potential climate change effects. Although there was no definitive conclusion about future climate effects, the technical staff operated within their professional guidelines to address the risk.
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39 risk. The CEO there supports local and regional economic development through direct action by the airports under his purview, and views sustainability as a key facet of economic development.
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40 climate change adaptation and resilience strategies and plans can encourage airports to define for themselves how they can participate and contribute. As suggested by the California example, strategies developed at state, regional, and local levels typically do not require binding commitments from participants.
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41 in northern European tourism as a measure of demand, they examined likely changes in this measure over time. The study found that in 30 to 50 years, thermal discomfort could drive tourists to cooler locations or shift their visits to cooler months.
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42 assets was that JFK International Airport, which lies near sea level, would be under more than 15 ft of water given certain extreme storm conditions (Jacob et al.
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43 relies on the expertise of the intended user of this draft model. Next, the model would have the user consider the consequences to society of the impact, in part through use of the earlier criticality assessments.
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44 There are models that can assist in estimating the cost of potential adaptation options. Researchers at the University of Alaska were able to estimate that climate change could add $3.6 to $6.1 billion (more than 10% to 20% above normal wear and tear)
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From page 44... ...
45 port is not under immediate threat; however, its staff is now considering integrating the relevant components of the strategy into the San diego Regional Airport Authority's sustainability policy. • In the case of Atlanta's major airport, an FAA grant to develop a sustainability plan has resulted in a plan that will require an annual review of goals.
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