Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe ... - MemoFin.fr

Climate impacts on socio-economic systems and healthTable 4.5Overview of climate change impacts on transport infrastructureFactor Effect Impact on infrastructure/services1. Temperature Change of distribution patterns, higher average and maximum temperature1.1 High temperatures and heat waves Overheating Infrastructure equipment, lifetime reduction, reliability ofthe electronic and the electric components (i.e. rail rollingstock equipment);slope instabilities due to the thawing of permafrost inalpine regions1.2 Sudden temperature changes Tension,Rail track buckling, slope fires, signalling problems1.3 Intense sunlight1.4 Freezing and thawing cyclesoverheatingSoil erosion Damage to embankments, earthwork2. Precipitation Change of distribution patterns, more extreme events2.1 Intense rainfall Soil erosion, landslides,floodingDamage to embankments, earthworkRoad traffic safety: risk of collisions as a result of badweather conditionsRisk of weather-related delays in all modes of servicesRail infrastructure assets, operationDrainage systems, tunnels, increased scour of bridgesRisk of weather-related delays in all modes of services2.2 Extended rain periods2.3 Flooding: coastal, surface water,fluvial2.4 DroughtSlower drainage, soil erosionLandslidesDesiccationEarthworks desiccationRoad traffic safety: risk of collisions as a result of dust onroad and consequent decrease of wheel gridIncreased abrasion of mechanical componentsPotential change of water levels on navigable rivers (verylow levels during summer and high levels in rain periods)2.5 Snow and ice Heavy snowfall, avalanches Restrictions/disruption of train operationsRoad traffic safety: risk of collisions as a result of badweather conditionsRisk of weather-related delays in all modes of services3. Wind Change of distribution patterns, more extreme events3.1 Storm/gale (inland) Higher wind forces Damage to rail installations, catenaryAll modes potential traffic disruptions and safety concernUprooting of treesRestrictions/disruption of train operationRoad traffic safety3.2 Coastal storms and sea-level rise Coastal flooding Embankments, earthwork, operation4. Lightning strikes andthunderstormsOvervoltage5. Vegetation Faster plant growth, newplantsCatenary, traffic control and communicationssystemsVegetation managementSource: Adapted from Nolte et al., 2011 to incorporate main impacts on all modes of transport.Data on past climate-related impacts on transportare restricted to individual extreme events, andattribution to climate change is generally notpossible. Some countries in Europe have assessedpotential climate impacts on their transportinfrastructure and/or adaptation options (e.g. theUnited Kingdom (UKCIP, 2011; Thornes et al., 2012),Spain (Crespo Garcia, 2011), Germany (DeutscheBundesregierung, 2008) and Switzerland (BAFU,2012). The level of detail in the analysis and theconsideration of the potential risks and impacts onthe different modes and on the transport sector asa whole differ considerably. The UK CCRA for thetransport sector highlights extreme weather eventsas the main challenge for the maintenance andoperation of existing infrastructure.The literature on potential economic impacts ofclimate change on transport infrastructure is stillscarce but rapidly evolving. Most sector-specificstudies on potential climate impacts and adaptationoptions focus on river transport (see Section 4.6.2)and on rail infrastructure (Nolte et al., 2011). Climateimpacts on road transport can be both beneficialand adverse. Reduced snow and ice cover wouldimprove traffic conditions, but increasing severity ofstorms would worsen them (see also Section 4.6.3).The remainder of this section presents results fromthree research projects addressing climate changeimpacts on transport that were funded under theSeventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7)of the European Commission.206 Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012