Houston and rapid_climate_change

A Change of Climate: Houston, Texas and Adaptation Planning Paul Martin Suckow Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs Urban Planning and Environmental Policy Ph.D. Program TSU Research Day, April, 2007

Abrupt climate change More heat in atmosphere, More humidity, drier land , greater floods, Gulf Stream slowing, Climate zones advancing northward, Greatest changes always in past 5 years.

Uncertainty not “if” but “how bad?” Approximate heat imbalance at Earth’s surface: +2 W/Sq M.

Facts, nonfiction ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Abrupt climate change ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Abrupt climate change evidence ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Abrupt climate change triggers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Thus far, computer models still do not incorporate sufficient resolution, hierarchies, and feedback mechanisms to understand the velocity and magnitude of recorded features.

Abrupt climate change actors ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Abrupt climate change actors ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Ice and snow cover reflect back to space 90% of the radiation received. Sea and land surfaces absorb 90% of solar irradiation.

Abrupt climate change actors ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],A “Parcel” of air (and the dust/moisture/pollutants it carries) typically moves by wind from Houston to Illinois or the Appalachians within two days.

Abrupt climate change actors ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],On average, climate zones and the biological niches they harbor are moving about 100 feet northward per year already, with greater change inevitable over the next century.

Expected effects upon Houston 10% - 40% increased disease risk Exotic/re-evolving diseases - Malaria (shown) - Dengue (break bone) fever

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How to support greater understanding ,[object Object],[object Object]

Adaptation to Climate Change ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Adaptation to Climate Change ,[object Object],[object Object]

Gulf Coast Adaptation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Expected effects: Sea level rise ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Gulf Coast Adaptation ,[object Object],[object Object]

Gulf Coast Adaptation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Houston Adaptation ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Houston Adaptation ,[object Object],[object Object]

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Houston and rapid_climate_change

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