Settlements and Infrastructure
Global warming could lead to substantial alterations in climate extremes, such as tropical cyclones, heat waves and severe precipitation events. This would degrade infrastructure and rise costs through intensified energy demands, maintenance for damaged transportation infrastructure, and disasters, such as coastal flooding. In the coastal zone, sea level rise and storm surge may be more critical drivers of these changes than either temperature or precipitation.
The CSIRO describes the additional impact on settlements and infrastructure for rises in temperature of only 1 to 2 degrees celsius:
- A 22% rise in 100 year storm surge height around Cairns; as a result the area flooded doubles.
- A 1% decrease in peak electricity demands in Melbourne and Sydney.
- 4-10% increase in peak electricity demands in Adelaide and Brisbane.
- 20% increase in methane from bush fires.
Read more about this topic: Effects Of Global Warming On Australia
Famous quotes containing the words settlements and and/or settlements:
“That those tribes [the Sac and Fox Indians] cannot exist surrounded by our settlements and in continual contact with our citizens is certain. They have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of improvement which are essential to any favorable change in their condition.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“That those tribes [the Sac and Fox Indians] cannot exist surrounded by our settlements and in continual contact with our citizens is certain. They have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of improvement which are essential to any favorable change in their condition.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)