Flooding Infrastructure and Climate Change

Over the course of this year, many areas of the United States have experienced severe flooding disasters, including places like Yellowstone, Kentucky, Denver, Death Valley, St. Louis, and Dallas. These areas experienced higher than average prolonged rainfall leading to an inundation of their already weak flood infrastructure, resulting in massive water overflow and significant economic losses. Widespread flooding affects local communities by leading to displacement, damage, and death. With the ongoing climate changes already causing strengthened and more frequent natural disasters, experts agree this flooding is also connected. 

Flooding does not only occur in these large regions because of the excess rain, although that is a significant factor. Many other factors are involved in severe flooding events, and the root of the problem is the predominant lack of adequate flooding infrastructure. Most urban areas use a combination of gutters, storm drains, and underground sewers to remove excess water from street surfaces and redirect it out of the city. These systems work well when there are periodic rain storms, characteristic of the region. However, their systems begin to malfunction when extensive amounts of precipitation inundate the region over a short period. Large influxes of water into the drainage infrastructure can rapidly overwhelm sewers resulting in backflow of water, pooling in large areas of these urban areas. The water can quickly become fast-moving water sources, wreaking havoc on communities and urban centers. 

Effects of flooding from past events like the 2005 Hurricane Katrina can still be seen across Louisiana today. Floods have enormous social consequences for impacted communities and individuals by threatening loss of human life, destroying property, damaging crops, deteriorating health, and leading to increased water-borne illnesses. The long-term effects of these floods can also disrupt clean water access, wastewater management, electricity, transportation, communication, and the loss of countless livelihoods. 

Another major factor affecting the outcome of these flooding events in urban areas is the lack of natural land that would otherwise effectively absorb and redirect excess water into surrounding areas. Most cities have surface areas encased in asphalt and concrete, preventing water from seeping into ground soil below. Impermeable surfaces in large cities increase their susceptibility to flooding when there are large influxes of rain, often making flooding worse.

Many technological and wealthy countries have been investing significantly in flood forecasting and preparation, inadvertently leaving their cities without many of the critical flood infrastructure systems that would protect them from these events. The resulting lack of development has led to many instances of significant loss of life regardless of the ample warnings because the areas were not physically able to manage such large influxes of water. 

The unfortunate reality faced by many areas across the United States is that these flood prevention infrastructures, like dams, reservoirs, and storm drains, were all designed decades ago and are completely outdated. Installed systems have failed to adequately handle the increasing large precipitation events over the last decade. 

New research into natural sources of flood protection found in flood plains, forests, and wetlands discovered that protecting and restoring these threatened regions could effectively protect nearby cities from a large quantity of flooding. These efforts, updating outdated infrastructure, and better allocating development land are all ways to combat future flooding events. 

Dangers of Extreme Heat Faced by Outdoor Workers

Many outdoor workers face a common problem every year: managing summer heat and health complications while on the job. Summer temperatures in southern regions of the United States and other parts of the world are increasing yearly, posing additional risks to these types of employees. However, the risks and complications are not equally imposed, and different types of workers may be at even higher risk, according to experts. 

Three of the hottest cities in the United States where workers are at increased risk include Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Certain studies have explored the relationship between heat indexes in these southwestern states and work-related injuries, revealing expected trends toward higher temperatures and people getting sick. 

These higher-than-average temperatures often reach more than 88°F during the summer and can cause many health complications. Extended exposure to exorbitant heat can result in dehydration, unconsciousness, heat stroke, and lack of perspiration. Severe heat exposure cases can damage internal organs, disrupting the central nervous system, blood clotting, liver functions, and kidneys.

Due to complications imposed by global warming, summer temperatures continue to increase and expose workers to heat waves, droughts, and higher temperatures. Outdoor workers that face these temperature challenges include industries such as agriculture, construction, maintenance, recreation, and more. Heat-related injuries can keep workers out of a job, sometimes up to 30 days, while healing. The extended recovery times for workers who have experienced heat-related injuries can significantly impact employees and their families. The risks of these work-related injuries impact the lower-class workers at an even higher rate. Researchers also discovered a higher percentage of female workers reported heat-related injuries.

Studies between 2011 and 2018 suggested an increase from 50 to 86 percent of people affected by work-related heat injuries identified as female. The increase in the disproportionate cases of affected female workers may result in more women entering the workforce, specifically into roles within outdoor industries. These results have inspired further research into the hormonal risk component associated with the different heat risks between sexes. Specific biological cycles may place women at higher risks than their male counterparts. 

Another demographic at greater risk of heat-related injuries includes long-standing employees. The same study found that increased work heat complications correlated with increased length of stay at the worker’s company. Employees with five or more years of experience were at a greater risk of work-related heat injuries than employees with less than one year. Experts suggested the increased risk of these long-standing employees may be due to the lack of risk perception or the cumulative tolerance built from chronic heat exposure during their years of service. 

More research is being conducted on the types of employees at the most significant risk and different safety methods these vital outdoor industries can implement to decrease heat-related health implications.

California in the Dark Amidst Environmental Regulations

Californians are sweating, and in the dark as sweeping new environmental regulations, healthcare, and climate change contribute to rolling blackouts across the state. California is home to the world’s fifth-largest economy, boasting a GDP of more than 3.4 trillion USD. The state is occupied by more than 39 million people and accommodates more than 213 million people annually. 

This state has had its fair share of financial difficulties accommodating such large population sizes as global climate change continues to increase environmental pressures on the region’s resource accessibility. Many of California’s largest cities have suffered ongoing climate changes that have reduced accessible water, energy, and moderate temperatures. The majority of California’s resources are delegated to the densely populated lower two-thirds of the state, where problems were initially acknowledged more than 100 years ago when people started mass settling in the early 1900s. 

Sweeping environmental and renewable energy reforms over the last decade have put the state in a place where it can supply most of its energy needs with solar power during the day. However, the energy storage from the solar sources is insufficient to supply the large demographic at night and in the summer, leading to rolling blackouts and intermittent periods of energy shortages. These unfortunate events often happen during the summer when extremely high temperatures in the state's southern portion exacerbate high energy usage, often fueling high taxing air conditioning units in both the private and public sectors. 

The lack of adequate energy resources and continued climate change increasing environmental pressures on the region have forced lawmakers like California governor Gavin Newsom to sign bills facilitating the implementation of fossil fuel subsidies. The fossil fuel legislation contradicts many of the environmental principles California is slowly shifting toward as they move toward a green economy. The governor argues that the state’s use of fossil fuels is necessary and unavoidable as the current renewable sources do not have the facilities to accommodate the state’s needs effectively. He told reporters that these fossil fuel bills are simply buying time for the state’s residents until additional renewable storage facilities can be produced.

Proponents on the fossil fuel side of the debate argue that the governor’s new legislation proves the state needs to utilize already established oil and gas industries instead of completely switching prematurely to renewables before the industry is fully developed. Energy shortages can be extremely detrimental and even deadly, especially with summer temperatures often exceeding more than 86 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Environmental groups have also criticized the state’s decisions explaining there would have been adequate renewable storage facilities available in the state had moved faster to establish the industry amidst earlier concerns and initial environmental legislation. Many environmentalists also argue the new bills lack clearly observed limits to prevent fossil fuel expansion across the state, and reduced regulations on industry leader’s development protocols can significantly impact local environments. 

Building an electrical infrastructure will be an environmentally safe and effective method for reducing fossil fuel use. California is among the first states to lead the movement and the system’s complex logistical problems. There are many sides to the debate, but the current industry is not supplying enough energy for California residents and businesses. 

Massive Tongan Eruption Sends Tsunamis Across the Pacific

A massive underwater volcano erupted Saturday, January, 15th near the remote Tonga nation in the south Pacific. The eruption generated immediate buzz across the internet from dramatic satellite imagery and tsunami warnings spread as far as the west coast of the United States. The massive Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano is particularly active, and smaller hydromagnetic eruptions like this event are commonly observed. The violent eruption is generated from a flash vaporization chemical reaction between extruded magma and seawater, causing an explosion. The United States Geological Survey measured the resulting shockwaves as a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. 

The volcano lies 40 miles away from Tonga’s main island, Tongatapu, and its eruption was heard in New Zealand as far as 1,400 miles away. The violent eruption generated a volcanic plume of ash, gas, and steam extending more than 12 miles into the atmosphere, where satellite images were able to reveal their expanse over the event duration and indicate the presence of tsunamis. 

A four-foot tsunami wave crashed into the Tongan capital on its northernmost island, Nuku'alofa, where boats and debris washed ashore. Videos across social media captured the powerful wave easily overcoming seawalls, roads, and fences inundating people’s properties. The impending threat left many Tongan residents rushing to higher ground as tsunamis can often increase with each generated wave. The eruption impacted undersea cable networks leaving many areas of Tonga in a blackout, impacting the island nation’s telecommunications. 

Tsunamis spread rapidly across the Pacific, extending warnings to Japan, Hawai’i, American Samoa, Chile, and the west coast of the USA. Waves up to 5 feet arrived Sunday morning in Chile, Japan, and California ports. Witnesses described the incoming tsunamis as water surges instead of the giant waves depicted in popular films like San Andreas (2015). 

New Zealand has committed an initial aid of more than $300,000 in supplies, technical support, and defense assistance. The eruption is one of the biggest to occur within the last decade, according to the volcanic explosivity index (VEI), used by volcanologists to categorize eruption scale. The VEI measures the plume height and quantity of ejected materials like ash, gas, and magma following an eruption. A VEI closer to 6 would indicate one of the rarest and largest eruptions, capable of sending materials high into the atmosphere generating global cooling effects as sunlight is reflected away from Earth’s surface. Scientists previously estimated this volcano to be capable of only producing eruptions up to a maximum of 2 VEI, but the recent event has not yet been measured. 

Climate Change Projections For 2030 Estimate That Majority Of The World's Population Will Live In Coastal Areas Which Are Exposed To Floods, Storms, and Tsunamis

A publication from Nature demonstrates that satellite observations of floods reveal that the proportion of the population exposed to floods has grown by 24% globally since the turn of the century. That is 10 times more than scientists previously thought, and they estimate that by 2030, climate and demographic change will add 25 new countries to the 32 already experiencing increasing floods and harsh weather conditions. 

The United Nations has chosen to increase international cooperation for developing countries as the theme of this year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day, on November 5th. The UN Secretary-General designated November 5th as World Tsunami Awareness day back in December 2015, and it is meant to call on all countries, international bodies, and civil society to increase understanding of the deadly threat and share innovative approaches to reduce risks. 

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, says that “rising sea levels caused by the climate emergency will further exacerbate the destructive power of tsunamis. We must limit warming to 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial averages and invest at scale in the resilience of coastal communities.” Many regions that experience rapid urbanization and growing tourism are prone to tsunamis, and it puts even more people in harm’s way. 

For World Tsunami Awareness Day in 2021, the theme will be the Sendai Seven Campaign. The Sendai Seven Campaign –"7 targets, 7 years" was launched in 2016 by the United Nations Secretary-General, with the main objective of promoting the seven targets of the Sendai Seven Campaign over seven years, which are the following: 

• 2016 – Target (a): Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020- 2030 compared to the period 2005-2015

• 2017 – Target (b): Substantially reduce the number of people affected globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020- 2030 compared to the period 2005-2015;

• 2018 – Target (c): Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030;

• 2019 – Target (d): Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030;

• 2020 – Target (e): Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020;

• 2021 – Target (f): Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030;

• 2022 – Target (g): Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.

Tsunamis are rare events but can be extremely deadly. In the past 100 years, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives or an average of 4,600 per disaster - more than any other natural hazard.