CLIMATE CHANGE AND TRANSPORTATION: POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS AND IMPACTS

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate several potential interactions between anthropogenic climate change and transportation based on published literature and the opinions of the authors. Although the content is synthesized primarily from Canadian research, most of the transportation-climate relationships are equally relevant to the American context. Unfortunately, the available peer-reviewed literature addressing this subject is very limited. Although there is no comprehensive quantitative assessment of the various transport-sector costs and opportunities associated with the current, let alone changed, climate, there are several qualitative summaries describing the vulnerabilities of transport-related activities to climate variability and change. In addition, a few quantitative impact analyses of climate change on selected transportation infrastructure and operations have been published. However, the bulk of literature relevant to climate change deals with current weather and climate sensitivities of transport systems. Weather and climate contribute to several hazards or sensitivities within the transportation sector (such as landslides, reduced visibility, etc.). The statistics of these variables may be affected by anthropogenic climate change. Weather and climate factors directly affect the planning, design, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in several ways--they also indirectly affect the demand for transportation services. Costs and benefits, measured in terms of safety, mobility, economic efficiency, and externalities, accrue as the operation of transportation facilities and services meets these demands and adjusts to weather and climate hazards. The remainder of this paper explores some of the conceptualized climate-transportation interactions.

• Record URL:
  http://www.climate.dot.gov/documents/workshop1002/mills.pdf
• Record URL:
  http://climate.dot.gov/documents/workshop1002/mills.pdf
• 
• Authors:
  • Mills, B
  • Andrey, J
• Conference:
  • The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Transportation
  • Location: Washington, D.C.
  • Date: 2002-10-1 to 2002-10-2
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON TRANSPORTATION: WORKSHOP SUMMARY AND PROCEEDINGS

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Climate; Costs; Economic efficiency; Externalities; Impacts; Literature reviews; Mobility; Safety; Transportation; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Interactions; Vulnerabilities
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Environment; Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962767
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 2 2003 12:00AM