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Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

  • 1.  Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

    Posted 12-05-2018 05:03 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-05-2018 05:03 PM

    A news post on ASCE Smartbrief caught my attention. It directs to the website: https://airport-technology.com that highlights the recent flooding of Kansai International Airport in Japan and discusses the potential effects of rising sea level on low lying airports around the world (some 34 around the world – 13 in USA). Although sea level rise is silently engulfing our low-lying coasts – coastal waterfront and in-water developments and structures of urban areas, and of port and marine installations – only incidences like this draw media attention.  

    While scientific predictions are stuck with uncertainties, and hardly agree on the rate or magnitude of accelerated sea level rise – the consequences of global warming on sea level, on enhancement of wave and storm activities are real – certainly occurring in our generation and will continue to demand serious and unwavering attention in time to come. 

    I invite all to share thoughts and experiences on this topic and on potential adaptation methods and strategies.

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    Dr. Dilip Barua, Ph.D, P.Eng, M. ASCE
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Website: https://widecanvas.weebly.com
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  • 2.  RE: Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

    Posted 12-06-2018 03:25 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-06-2018 03:24 PM
    Dilip,

    Excellent topic to bring up and the concern is real.

    We are working on a few coastal vulnerability assessments that deal with just these uncertainties. Fortunately, there is good practice for incorporating the uncertainty associated with Sea Level Rise (SLR) into hazards assessments. Also, many states have some recommended practice for what levels of SLR to consider.

    On the other end of the discussion, many of the assessments I am aware are being conducted on a case-by-case basis due to state requirements (such as in California) or by private entities on their at-risk properties. The lack of coherence here does cause concern that critical infrastructure, where affected, may not be managed with the same resources, setting the stage for large scale damage in future storm scenarios. 

    All in all, a good topic and important consideration for the safety of US infrastructure overall. Unfortunately, I am not aware of a comprehensive national level approach to these dangers and they are being managed at vastly different levels depending on where you are.

    Thanks!
    Craig

    ------------------------------
    Craig Jones A.M.ASCE
    Principal
    Integral Consulting, Inc.
    Santa Cruz CA
    (831)466-9630
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  • 3.  RE: Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

    Posted 12-08-2018 09:49 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-08-2018 09:48 AM
      |   view attached
    This is certainly an important topic for discussion. I would like to share a picture of Santos Dumont Airport, downtown Rio de Janeiro, during a storm on April 7, 2010, when the airport had to be closed due to exceptionally high waves (>5m) inside Guanabara Bay.

    Not only long term slow-rising sea level must be accounted for, but it is my opinion that storm waves which are still unpredictable in the long term may be a much more serious problem.

    Because of the complex network of air routes, shutting down an airport for 6 hours may have a dramatic impact. On that day, in Rio de Janeiro, all traffic was moved to the International Airport.




    ------------------------------
    Claudio Neves M.ASCE
    Professor
    Federal University of Rio De Janeiro
    Rio de Janeiro
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  • 4.  RE: Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

    Posted 12-11-2018 07:57 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-11-2018 09:53 AM
    Unfortunately, until the US Government accepts climate change and the hazards caused by it, I believe that a national effort will not occur.

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    John Wood P.E., M.ASCE
    Project Engineer
    Pittsburgh PA
    (412)5613260
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  • 5.  RE: Sea Level Rise and Low Lying Airports

    Posted 12-10-2018 10:09 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-10-2018 10:09 AM
    Great points by all.  In addition to SLR, we also consider airport functionality dependent on increasing heat, temperature volatility/freeze-thaw, and increasing intensity/frequency of precipitation events.  The ASCE Committee on Adaptation to a Changing Climate is currently working on a project to score the relative near-term/long-term vulnerabilities of different infrastructure categories (including aviation) to climate stressor impacts (e.g., overheating, flooding due to cloud bursts, lower air density/increased wind gusts, deterioration of materials/equipment, etc.).  Airports, like transit infrastructure, present unique vulnerabilities due to a critical role played in the connection of goods, services and people, as well as an interdependency with all other infrastructure (e.g., shared risks to essential electrical, telecommunications, fueling, or surface access infrastructure).

    Airports, typically expansive, open, low-lying and flat, protected by a flood wall or berm for the surge may need to manage substantial amounts of stormwater (and groundwater/seepage) that cannot be drained by gravity due to the hydrostatic pressure of seawater beyond the boundary of protection.  Grades/equipment elevations can be raised (to a limit) and internal water can be stored and/or pumped over the design flood elevation, but this all adds s