SPTC Project 15.5-04

Infrastructure-Relevant Climate Projections for the Southern Great Plains

Abstract

Transportation infrastructure is typically designed and built based on the assumption that the risks associated with climate and weather conditions at any given location do not change over time. Today,however, climate change is altering the risk of many types of weather extremes including the frequency and/or severity of high temperatures, heavy precipitation events, coastal flooding, and storms.Here, we developed maps of typical climate indices expected to impact a large variety of infrastructure structures and performed a quantitative analysis assessing how climate change may impact pavement performance and thermal conductivity in the Southern Plains as well as in other locations within the continental U.S. by applying state-of-the-art climate projections to generate infrastructure-relevant data products that will allow transportation researchers to assess and prepare for the potential risks a changing climate poses to Southern Plains roads, highways, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure. The unique results indicate that increasing temperatures have a negative effect on flexible pavements for the majority of the locations included here for all measures of deformation as well as increases to the temperature gradient within the asphalt structure, which is more pronounced under warmer temperatures. Studies such as these, along with the regional and national maps of specific indicators, should help guide infrastructure planners and designers when building new roads and other infrastructure to ensure it is built to withstand current and future warming trends.

Project PI:Katharine Hayhoe

 

Researchers:

Darryl James

Anne Stoner

Bhagya Athukorallage

 

Project Duration: 2017-2018

Full Report