May 2, 2015
By Paul S. Chinowsky
...In Boulder, (click here) we hear a continuing call to increase our resiliency to climate change. However, the question that needs to be answered is, "What are the specific risks that we face on the Front Range and in Boulder County?" The answer is that we face multiple risks beyond those resulting from catastrophic events such as flash floods and wildfires. In fact, many of the risks we face result from incremental changes in climate. The recently released Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study, coauthored by researchers at the University of Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State University, documents that the climate in Colorado is projected to warm by 2.5 to 6.5 degrees Fahrenheit by mid-century. In the Boulder region, all climate models project warming temperatures during the summer months as well as an increasing number of heat waves.
Although much of our infrastructure will be affected by these changes, two sectors are of particular concern and as such need to be a priority for resiliency actions — roads and public buildings. In terms of roads, temperature increases will result in the weakening of asphalt road surfaces. This weakening allows for increased cracking and potholes when traffic patterns remain the same or increase. In cases of flooding, these increased cracks result in a greater likelihood of flood-based damage. Similarly, these cracks result in increased freeze damage in winter months. This increased damage results in significant increases in maintenance costs to maintain currently accepted levels of service....
What should we do about mitigating the Climate Crisis? it is right here, prepared by US government scientists with distinguished credentials.
"The USA Climate Report" (click here)
