Submitted by Aaron Lewis, Nov 16, 2006 13:06

Our infrastructure, from roads and dams to parking lots at malls and factories are designed to funcion within a rather narrow range of weather. That is because engineers try to limit the capital cost of structures that they design. I live in a dry area, so structures here are designed for dry conditions. If the climate changes and gets wetter, our structures will have to be redesigned and recontructed. That is a huge capital cost.

For example, water collection systems that collect water from the Sierras and send it to Southren California are nearby. With increased heat, we can expect more intense storms. Righ now, one intense storm could damage this system and curtail Southern California's water supplies. And, the computer that controls some pipelines carring natural gas from the Gulf Coast to New England is in Southern California. What if that part of Southren California does not have water? Thus, one violent rainstorm in Northren California could disrupt home heating and electricity in New England. And, what do we do with millions of people in Southren California that suddenly do not have water piped into their homes? Where do you get that much bottled water?

The first visible effect of climate change will be more variable weather. More variable weather will come long before there are significant changes in sea level. Are we ready?

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