Is the UK Infrastructure Ready to Face Extreme Weather?
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantThe mild, if slightly cold, weather that
Britain is famed for is beginning to feel like a thing of the past. After the
intensity of the Beast from the East in 2018, followed by one of the hottest
summers on record, it’s hard to know what to expect next. According to the
long-range weather forecast produced by scientists at UCL, the UK is in for yet
another extreme winter. The average temperature is predicted to dip 0.5 degrees
below previous, frosty years. Some claim that this will be one of the coldest
winters in decades. As we attempt our commutes through blizzards and black ice,
it will become ever-more difficult to ignore the extremities that climate change
is bringing. It isn’t just snow that is becoming a nightmare for British
infrastructure: floods and heatwaves do their fair share of damage too. Is our
infrastructure prepared for the inevitable difficulties? Or have we failed to
think far enough ahead?
Roasting heatwaves
Hot summers have been so rare over the
years, that a mere glimpse of sunshine has Brits outside in shorts and
t-shirts. But in recent years, the temperature has been on the rise and these
pockets of sun seem more common. Although we love the opportunity to get
outside, the hot and dry weather actually has a damaging effect on our
infrastructure.
Dry weather is a major contributor to
cracks and potholes in roads, which can cause serious problems for drivers. In
addition, heatwaves can cause railway systems to overheat, as the temperature
of steel rails can reach 20 degrees higher than the air around them. Therefore,
consistent temperatures of 30 or even 40 degrees could lead to extreme
over-heating of rail tracks. As a result, the metal on the tracks will expand,
which puts them at risk of buckling. In extreme circumstances, this could
derail trains.
Another issue caused by hot weather is the
expanding and sagging of electrical lines. This is yet another factor that
could cause serious disruptions to train services, and the lines might even be
pulled down. The only way that the rail systems can combat these dangers is to
impose more severe speed restrictions. Although this may cause delays over hot
periods, it is the safest way for the transport system to operate.
Flash floods
As has been proven time and time again in
recent years, there are many areas in the UK that are not well equipped to cope
with flooding. Another direct result of global warming, floods are becoming
more and more common in the UK, and the Environmental Agency has told flood
planners to “prepare for the worst”. In a recent consultation on flood
strategy, the agency claimed that “for every person who suffers flooding, about
16 more are affected by loss of services such as power, transport and
telecommunications.” Evidently, the UK’s infrastructure needs to keep improving,
as floods are only going to worsen in the future.
In relation to this, the Environmental Agency
advised that all public infrastructures need to be made flood-resilient by 2050.
We also need to start considering the long-term rather than the immediate
future. As part of this advice, they encouraged people to start considering
potential flooding while building new homes, rather than just reacting to the
damage when it occurs. When constructing something new, whether in the public
or private sector, a flood risk assessment should always be carried out. These
assessments identify flood mitigation measures and provide advice on what
actions should be taken in the event of a flood.
Turbulent Winters
Considering the frosty predictions for
winter 2019/20, we need to ready our infrastructure. During the harsh winters
of recent years, the UK transport system has faced extreme difficulties. From
icy roads to exposed direct current indicators and flashover faults, the cold
weather can cause severe damage.
In response to this, a cold weather plan
was established in order to outline what to expect and how best to prepare over
the increasingly cold winters. Local authorities are now better equipped than
ever to grit roads and prevent black ice as a result of this. For the transport
sector, forward planning is key. Transport
planning advice plays a major part in ensuring that infrastructure schemes
take into account all environmental considerations at the design stage to help
to mitigate risks.
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Created on Oct 17th 2019 09:34. Viewed 459 times.