The worst flooding in Thailand in 50 years has caused some people to leave the capital in search of higher ground, while others improvise and try to wait out the disaster.
Many people believe that extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. This week, a draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts more severe weather in the coming years. (The final report is expected to be released in a few weeks.) By the end of this century, it says, what we now consider to be a 20-year storm will likely be the new 5-year storm, and although hurricanes and tropical storms probably will not become more frequent, they may be stronger.
Some scientists are also relating climate change to the likelihood of more frequent and more severe drought, as Texas is now experiencing, although they acknowledge that no specific studies have linked the two.
Some stormwater practitioners have long been making practical suggestions for ways to deal with increased runoff. Increased erosion in coastal and low-lying areas could be one of the greatest challenges, and many coastal cities are planning for ways to cope with sea level rise. The Coastal Protection Symposium at StormCon last August dealt with some of these strategies.
Is your area planning for more extreme weather—or, if you’re along a coast, for rising water levels? If so, what specifically are you doing, and what do you think the most likely problems might be in your area?
New Forester University Webinar:
How can we design a better and greener roadway? Join David Hein, P.Eng., V.P. of transportation at Applied Research Associates, on November 17th for “Greening the Road” exploring roadway design, specification, and construction elements used to develop long-lasting roadways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce and recycle road-building resources, and promote environmental stewardship.