State of the Science in Meteorological/Hydrological Extremes

Abstract

This chapter explores some of the challenges associated with attributing specific meteorological and hydrological extreme events to global warming. The direct impact of higher temperatures on such critical infrastructure as increased energy demand for cooling purposes, damage to roads and railways, and degraded water quality is reviewed. Details are provided on some of the effects of such extreme upward movements in temperature on other meteorological and hydrological factors that can in turn have substantial impacts on civil engineering infrastructure. These include precipitation, stream flow and runoff, frequency and intensity of droughts and fires, storm tracks, frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones, sea levels and surface temperatures, storm surge, ocean acidity, sea ice extent, frequency of atmospheric icing events, ocean wave height and duration, snow pack duration and depth, and the frequency and cost of natural disasters. The projected influence of global warming on many of these factors is discussed.