A clear, concise discussion of today’s hottest topics in climate change, including adapting to climate change and geo-engineering to mitigate the effects of change, Engineering Response to Climate Change, Second Edition takes on the tough questions of what to do and offers real solutions to the practical problems caused by radical changes in the Earth’s climate. From energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions reduction, to climate-altering technologies, this new edition explores the latest concerns such as acidification of the ocean, energy efficiency, transportation, space solar power, and future and emerging possibilities. The editors set the stage by discussing the separate issues of the emissions of radiatively important atmospheric constituents, energy demand, energy supply, agriculture, water resources, coastal hazards, adaption strategies, and geo-engineering. They explain the difference between the natural and human drivers of climate change and describe how humans have influenced the global climate during past decades. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions, calculations, and possible research topics. See What’s in the Second Edition: New conceptual tools and research necessary for problems associated with fossil fuels Cutting-edge topics such as adaption and geo-engineering The latest concerns such as acidification of the ocean, energy efficiency, transportation, and space solar power Solutions to problems caused by changes in the Earth’s climate So much has changed in the 15 years since the publication of the first edition, that this is, in effect, a completely new book. However, the general theme is the same: the climate energy problem has become largely an engineering problem. With this in mind, the book explores what engineers can do to prevent, mitigate, or adapt to climate change.
Author(s): Robert G. Watts
Edition: 2nd
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2013
Language: English
Pages: xviii+502
Engineering Response to Climate Change, 2nd Edition......Page 4
Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 10
Acknowledgments......Page 12
Editor......Page 14
Contributors......Page 16
1.1 Introduction......Page 20
1.3.1 Natural Greenhouse......Page 22
1.3.2 Man-Made Greenhouse......Page 23
1.3.3.1 Global Energy Balance......Page 25
1.3.3.2 Feedbacks......Page 26
1.3.3.3 Climate Models: Predicting Global Warming......Page 28
1.3.3.4.2 Ocean Acidification......Page 31
1.3.3.4.3 Coral Reefs......Page 32
1.3.3.5 The Hockey Stick......Page 33
1.3.3.7 Fingerprints: Observations of Global Climate Change......Page 35
1.3.3.7.1 Here Is What We Should Expect and What the Data Show......Page 36
1.4 Skeptics: Are Their Doubts Scientifically Valid?......Page 53
1.5 About This Book......Page 55
1.6 Questions for Discussion......Page 59
References......Page 60
2.1 Introduction......Page 64
2.2 Drivers of Climate and Climate Change......Page 65
2.3 Natural Forcings......Page 68
2.4 The Greenhouse Effect......Page 73
2.5 The Greenhouse Gases......Page 75
2.6 Concerns about Human Effects on Climate......Page 79
2.7 The Role of Particles in the Atmosphere......Page 80
2.8.1 Past Climate......Page 84
2.8.2 Present Climate......Page 85
2.8.3 Future Climate......Page 91
2.9 Conclusions......Page 96
References......Page 97
Websites......Page 99
3 Scenarios of Future Socio-Economics, Energy, Land Use, and Radiative Forcing......Page 100
3.1 Introduction......Page 101
3.2 Exploring Alternative Socioeconomic and Ecosystem Drivers......Page 104
3.2.2 Millennium Development Goals......Page 105
3.2.3.1 Global Populations......Page 112
3.2.3.2 Labor Participation Rates......Page 113
3.2.3.3 Labor Productivity Growth......Page 115
3.2.3.4 GDP Development......Page 117
3.2.4 Technology Assumptions......Page 120
3.2.5 Summary of GCAM Input Assumptions in Six Alternative Scenarios......Page 124
3.2.6 RCPs and Climate Policy Assumptions......Page 126
3.3.1 Energy System in GCAM......Page 129
3.3.2 Resource Assumptions......Page 130
3.3.3 Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use Systems in GCAM......Page 131
3.3.4 Climate System in GCAM......Page 133
3.4 GCAM Results: Climate System and Mitigation Effort......Page 134
3.5.1 Energy System......Page 136
3.5.2 Passenger Transportation System......Page 143
3.5.3 Agriculture and Land Use......Page 146
3.6 Challenges to Adaptation and Mitigation......Page 149
3.7 Summing Up......Page 152
References......Page 153
4.1 Introduction......Page 158
4.2 Global Sea Level......Page 161
4.3 Future SLR......Page 164
4.4.1 Coastal Storms......Page 168
4.5.2 Sea Level, Storm Surge, and Waves......Page 172
4.5.3 Shoreline Erosion......Page 174
4.5.4 Saltwater Intrusion......Page 178
4.5.5 Impacts on Estuaries and Wetlands......Page 180
4.5.6 Role of Coastal Structures......Page 181
4.5.7 Impact on Ports......Page 182
4.5.9 Impacts on River Deltas......Page 183
4.5.10 Coastal Ecosystems......Page 184
4.6 Delta Committee Recommendations......Page 185
4.7 Points to Note......Page 187
Exercises......Page 189
References......Page 191
5 Water Resources......Page 198
5.1 Introduction......Page 199
5.2.2 Water Resources by Sector......Page 200
5.2.2.1 Water Supply for Municipal, Industrial, and Agricultural Uses......Page 201
5.2.2.2 Transportation......Page 202
5.2.2.4 Power Production......Page 203
5.2.2.5 Water Quality......Page 204
5.2.2.6 Habitat......Page 205
5.2.2.8 Infrastructure......Page 208
5.2.2.9 Institutions......Page 209
5.2.2.10 Holistic Management of Water Resources......Page 210
5.3 Hydrometeorologic Cycle......Page 213
5.3.1 Surface and Ground Water......Page 214
5.3.2 Variability, Trends, and Changes......Page 215
5.3.3 Impacts on Water Use......Page 216
5.3.4 Water Resources Demand......Page 217
5.4.1 Water Supply for Municipal, Industrial, and Agricultural Uses......Page 218
5.4.2 Flood Damage Reduction and Dam Safety......Page 219
5.4.3 Transportation......Page 220
5.4.4 Power Production......Page 221
5.4.6 Water Quality......Page 222
5.4.9 Issues by Region......Page 223
5.5 Research and Development......Page 224
5.5.2 Adaptation to Change......Page 227
5.5.3.2 Increased Efficiency and Conservation in Water Resources Activities......Page 229
5.5.5 Future Needs......Page 230
5.5.5.2 Assessment of the Resiliency and Vulnerability (Including from an Environmental Quality, Performance, and Structural Perspective) of Present Water Resources Systems and Infrastructures......Page 231
5.5.5.4 Development, Modification, and Operation of Water Resources Projects That Meet Multiple Uses and Stated Objectives in the Face of an Uncertain Climatic Future......Page 232
5.6 Questions for Discussion......Page 233
References......Page 234
6 Energy Demand, Efficiency, and Conservation......Page 240
6.1 Introduction......Page 241
6.2.4 Energy Intensity......Page 243
6.2.6 The Efficiency Gap......Page 244
6.3.1 Economic Structure......Page 245
6.3.2 Lifestyle......Page 246
6.3.3 Technological Change: New Demands......Page 248
6.3.4 Technological Change: Improved Efficiency......Page 249
6.4 “The Efficiency Gap”......Page 250
6.4.2 The Decision Environment......Page 252
6.4.3 The Options......Page 255
6.4.4 The Efficiency Investor......Page 257
6.4.5 Efficiency Gap or Noneconomic Motivations?......Page 259
6.5 Efficiency Interventions......Page 260
6.5.1 Strategies Aimed at Appliance Manufacturers......Page 261
6.5.2 Policies Aimed at Energy Suppliers......Page 262
6.5.3 Financial Incentives......Page 263
6.5.4 Information Programs......Page 264
6.5.5 The Jevons Paradox (a.k.a. The Rebound Effect)......Page 266
6.6 Re-Imagining the Energy System......Page 269
6.6.1 Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)......Page 273
6.7 Concluding Remarks......Page 274
6.8 Questions for Discussion......Page 275
References......Page 276
7.1 Introduction and Scope......Page 280
7.2 RET and Resources......Page 281
7.2.1 Solar Energy......Page 282
7.2.2 Wind Energy......Page 284
7.2.3 Hydroelectric Power......Page 286
7.2.4 Other Renewable Energy Resources for Power Generation......Page 287
7.3 RET Characteristics......Page 293
7.4 Variability of Wind and Solar Resources......Page 296
7.5 Grid Adequacy and Security......Page 301
7.6 Ensuring System Adequacy and Security with VRETs......Page 305
7.6.1 Supply-Side Options......Page 306
7.6.2 Demand-Side Options......Page 310
7.7 Transmission Issues Associated with VRETs......Page 311
7.8 Carbon Reductions Associated with RETs......Page 314
7.9 Estimates of U.S. RET Potential and Carbon Mitigation Impacts......Page 317
7.10 Ultimate Potential of Wind and PV in the U.S. Central Electric Market......Page 321
Questions for Discussion......Page 324
References......Page 326
8.1 Introduction......Page 328
8.2 Energy from Nuclear Fission......Page 329
8.3 Global Nuclear Energy System Today......Page 331
8.4 Motivations for Expanded Nuclear Energy Use......Page 333
8.5 Limitations and Concerns of Nuclear Deployment......Page 334
8.5.1 Safety......Page 335
8.5.2 Nuclear Costs......Page 336
8.5.3 Uranium and Thorium Resources......Page 337
8.5.4 Waste and Proliferation......Page 339
8.6 Future Nuclear Energy Systems......Page 340
8.7 Transition to Future Nuclear Energy Systems......Page 342
Questions for Discussion......Page 344
References......Page 345
9.1 Introduction to Fusion Energy......Page 350
9.1.1 Fuel Resources and Cost......Page 354
9.1.2 Safety and Environment......Page 355
9.1.3 Radioactive Waste......Page 357
9.1.4 Land Use and Fusion Products......Page 358
9.1.5 Approaches to Fusion Energy......Page 359
9.2.1 Basic Principles......Page 362
9.2.2 Equilibrium, Stability, and Confinement......Page 365
9.2.3 Fueling and Heating......Page 368
9.2.4 Magnetic Confinement Concepts—Tokamaks......Page 369
9.2.5 Magnetic Confinement—Concept Improvements......Page 372
9.3.1 Basic Principles......Page 378
9.3.2 Inertial Fusion Targets......Page 379
9.3.4 Inertial Fusion Power Plants and Issues......Page 380
9.3.5 Inertial Confinement—Concept Improvements......Page 383
Question for Discussion......Page 384
References......Page 385
10.1 Overview......Page 388
10.2 Global Wealth and Electric Energy......Page 389
10.3.1 Economic Independence from the Biosphere......Page 390
10.3.3 Nuclear Fission Reactors......Page 391
10.4 Lunar Solar Power System......Page 392
10.5 Terrestrial Global Power Systems’ Mass Effectiveness......Page 396
10.6 Returns from Lunar Solar Power Investment......Page 398
10.7 Twenty-First Century Power Tools......Page 401
10.8 Moving Forward to 2050......Page 402
Human Scale......Page 403
Commercial Power and Wealth......Page 404
Lunar Commercial Power and Industries......Page 405
References......Page 406
11.1 Introduction......Page 410
11.2 Adaptation Will Be Necessary......Page 411
11.3 Economics: The Costs of Inaction......Page 413
11.4 Getting Awareness of Potential Vulnerabilities......Page 414
11.5 Building Resilience while Reducing Vulnerability......Page 415
11.6 Adaptation Planning......Page 416
11.7 Using Chicago as an Example of Adaptation in Action......Page 418
11.7.1 Adaptation Strategy 1: Reduce Vulnerability to Extreme Heat Events......Page 419
11.7.2 Adaptation Strategy 2: Reduce Vulnerability to Extreme Precipitation Events......Page 423
11.8 A Methodology for Adaptation Strategies......Page 427
11.9 Conclusions and Future Directions......Page 429
References......Page 430
12 Climate Engineering: Impact Reducer or Suffering Inducer?......Page 432
12.1 Introduction......Page 433
12.2 The Climate Change Predicament......Page 435
12.3 Options for Extending Mitigation with Carbon Dioxide Removal......Page 440
12.3.1 Expanding the Terrestrial Biosphere......Page 442
12.3.2 Increasing Carbon Stored in Terrestrial Soils......Page 443
12.3.4 Increasing Ocean Uptake of Carbon......Page 444
12.3.5 Scrubbing CO2 from the Atmosphere......Page 447
12.3.6 Moderating the Warming Influence of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases and Aerosols......Page 448
12.3.7 Summary on the Potential for Carbon Dioxide Removal......Page 449
12.4 Options for Counterbalancing Global Warming with Solar Radiation Management......Page 450
12.4.1 Proposed Approaches for Reducing the Amount of Solar Radiation Reaching the Earth......Page 452
12.4.2 Proposed Approaches for Increasing the Reflectivity of the Stratosphere......Page 454
12.4.3 Proposed Approaches for Increasing the Reflectivity of the Troposphere......Page 457
12.4.4 Proposed Approaches for Reducing the Infrared Opacity of the Troposphere......Page 460
12.4.5 Proposed Approaches for Increasing the Reflectivity of the Surface......Page 462
12.4.6 Summary......Page 463
12.5 Options for Focusing Climate Engineering Technologies on Moderating Specific Impacts......Page 464
12.5.1 Potential for Moderating Arctic Warming......Page 465
12.5.2 Potential for Limiting Ice Sheet Deterioration......Page 467
12.5.3 Potential for Nudging Storm Tracks......Page 468
12.5.4 Potential for Moderating the Intensity of Tropical Cyclones......Page 469
12.5.5 Potential for Limiting the Effects of Ocean Warming on Ocean Reefs......Page 470
12.6 Implications of Incorporating Climate Engineering into a Comprehensive Response Strategy......Page 471
12.6.1 Policy Implications of CDR......Page 476
12.6.2 Policy Implications of SRM......Page 477
12.7 Summary......Page 480
Questions for Students......Page 481
References......Page 482
Index......Page 494
