Considering the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Air Traffic Management

This paper shows how both the original 2008 work done by the OMEGA Consortium, and the follow up scoping case studies that were carried out in 2010, highlight a significant risk for climate change-related impacts to affect the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) system and this risk increases over time. Three potential impacts have been covered in the case-studies including climate-induced changes in demand patterns which affect both the timing and location of traffic peaks and flows, flooding risk to airports operations with potential for a system wide effect and through increased extreme weather effects affecting en-route capacity, and causing an increase in track miles and delay. Risks requiring further research have been identified in each area. Moreover, a key area for further consideration is a combined scenario where these or other combinations of climate change driven impacts coincide and the system-wide impact this may induce. Therefore the timescales over which these impacts may begin to be experienced varies from 2020 to 2090, analysis suggests that it would be prudent to begin considering such likelihoods in current medium to long-term planning, as well as to carry out further research into the likely magnitude and timing of such events within current projects. In recent years it is evident that many millions of Euro have been and continue to be correctly invested in understanding and mitigating the impact of aviation on the climate – but it also seems that to-date, society’s investment in understanding the potential risk from inevitable climate change on mobility networks is lagging behind. It is encouraging however that this topic is presently starting to attract interest and investment. ATM needs to be playing an active role in supporting this endeavor.

• Record URL:
  https://aetransport.org/past-etc-papers/conference-papers-pre-2009/conference-papers-2010
• Corporate Authors:

  Association for European Transport (AET)

  1 Vernon Mews, Vernon Street, West Kensington
  London W14 0RL,    
• Authors:
  • Burbidge, R
  • Melrose, A
  • Watt, A
• Conference:
  • European Transport Conference, 2010
  • Location: Glasgow Scotland, United Kingdom
  • Date: 2010-10-11 to 2010-10-13
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: European Transport Conference, 2010 Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air transportation; Aircraft exhaust gases; Environmental impacts; Mobility; Peak hour traffic; Travel demand
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Environment; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01350306
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 22 2011 7:51AM