Adapting to Climate Change:Emergency Management Challenges

David Thornton

Adapting to Climate Change

What is Climate Change? – CC101

Is the Climate in Minnesota Changing, and if so how?

What are the likely implications of a changing climate?

The end of the world as we know it

The greatest hoax ever perpetrated upon mankind

Climate Change is Either:

What is Climate?

Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elements in a given region over long periods of time. Climate can be contrasted to weather, which is the present condition of these same elements and their variations over periods up to two weeks.

Climate Change?

Weather ≠ climate A single weather event cannot be linked

to climate change

A season’s weather cannot be linked to climate change

So, is our Climate Changing?

Recent Observed Climate Trends in the Upper Midwest

Warmer winters; higher minimum temperatures

Earlier spring Shorter duration of ice cover Greater frequency of “tropical” dew

points Greater annual precipitation

More days with rain More frequent heavy rains Increasing winter snowfall

Temperature Increase °F 1895-2006

Winter Temperature Increases are Greater

Annual Precipitation Increase 1895-2006

Annual Precipitation is Increasing

Annual Runoff is Increasing

How Does it Work?

Higher Temperatur

es

Speeds up the water

cycle

More extreme weather events

The New Minnesota Climate?

Minnesota Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Team (ICAT) Pollution Control Agency Department of Natural Resources Department of Health Department of Agriculture Department of Transportation Department of Commerce (Office of

Energy Security) Department of Public Safety (Division of

Homeland Security and Emergency Management)

ICAT ConclusionsPotential Impacts of Climate Change in

Minnesota

More spring flooding events

More frequent flash flooding events

Increased threat of waterborne disease

More invasive species Accelerated

extinction or extirpation of plant and animal species

Longer growing seasons

Changes in duration of allergy seasons; increased of respiratory illness

Chemical and biological changes to lakes and streams

Increased periods of drought

ICAT ConclusionsPotential Impacts of Climate Change in

Minnesota

More wildfire events More extreme heat

events, increasing the potential for heat-related illness or death

Changing special patterns and incidence of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases

Changes in established outdoor recreational opportunities

Lower water levels and changing shorelines on Lake Superior

Degradation of air quality

Changes in energy usage

Increased spending on infrastructure