^ You are spot on - it is a statistical problem. How likely is something to happen?
Let me make it clear: I study energy policy. My previous post was not some hippie heart gush about how we need to save the planet. It was about the vulnerabilities our energy infrastructure faces with regards to extreme weather events.
That is what my current research is directed towards, which inadvertently introduced me to BITOG in the first place while digging through web links and reports.
Hurricane Katrina caused $15 billion in direct damages to energy producers, with millions more spent on recovery and recoop. New York City still has buildings without electricity, and saw massive power outage in part due to electric stations being directly threatened by storm surge on the coast line. There was also major gas shortages as a result of power loss, which lead to the return of gas rationing.
There are obviously weak links in how we supply and produce energy. For instance, with the population boom of the southwest, we are left with the logistical question of how to accommodate the increase in air conditioning use and water demand. Or during a drought/severe heat, what is the required amount of water needed to run a power station? Is that need threatened by water shortage?
What I hope to work towards is a way to minimize damage and inability to continue and expend energy production if more severe weather is to be the new norm.
I'd love to say that it isn't of big concern, and move onto another line of study. Yet the number of incidents caused by extreme weather have increased ten fold since 1992. There is no research nor indicators to suggest that this trend will slow down. We need to be sure our energy systems can handle the change.
Let me make it clear: I study energy policy. My previous post was not some hippie heart gush about how we need to save the planet. It was about the vulnerabilities our energy infrastructure faces with regards to extreme weather events.
That is what my current research is directed towards, which inadvertently introduced me to BITOG in the first place while digging through web links and reports.
Hurricane Katrina caused $15 billion in direct damages to energy producers, with millions more spent on recovery and recoop. New York City still has buildings without electricity, and saw massive power outage in part due to electric stations being directly threatened by storm surge on the coast line. There was also major gas shortages as a result of power loss, which lead to the return of gas rationing.
There are obviously weak links in how we supply and produce energy. For instance, with the population boom of the southwest, we are left with the logistical question of how to accommodate the increase in air conditioning use and water demand. Or during a drought/severe heat, what is the required amount of water needed to run a power station? Is that need threatened by water shortage?
What I hope to work towards is a way to minimize damage and inability to continue and expend energy production if more severe weather is to be the new norm.
I'd love to say that it isn't of big concern, and move onto another line of study. Yet the number of incidents caused by extreme weather have increased ten fold since 1992. There is no research nor indicators to suggest that this trend will slow down. We need to be sure our energy systems can handle the change.