Scientists point to climate change risks to airports, suggest adaptation measures

Local weather change poses crucial hazards to the aviation sector from temperature will increase, extreme precipitations, variations to storm and wind styles, sea level rise and storm surges. 

The European Organisation for the Protection of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) gave vent to these issues n a report ‘Challenges of Expansion 2013’ working with climate adjust impacts on the aviation sector.

A examine a short while ago authored by Marta Ellena and Paola Mercogliano, Scientist and Director respectively the Regional Designs and Geo-Hydrological Impacts Division at the Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Weather Transform, has occur out with theoretical frameworks on assessment of the hazards scenario.

Theoretical frameworks

“The illustrated methodology signifies a single of the very first tries to quantify challenges in the airport environment”, in accordance to Mercogliano, who goes on to clarify that the methodology proposes an method with the purpose to define a particular danger for each individual hazard thought of. 

The conclusions reveal that airports found in the Mediterranean areas will mainly have to face the risks linked with these climatic hazards. Even so, it is feasible to replicate the software of these frameworks in other geographical contexts impacted by the exact same hazards, Mercogliano states.

The approach proposed aims to guidance stakeholders in conducting danger analyses in purchase to establish suited adaptation methods. Dependent on the supporting literature, the theoretical frameworks were produced by way of the identification of certain indicators of hazard, publicity and vulnerability.

Serious temperature hazard

In Framework 1 – Weather risk thanks to extraordinary temperatures , the picked local climate indices are centered on temperature thresholds that may harm runway surfaces, aprons, taxiways, parking areas or that could trigger an interruption of airport actions. 

Also, intense temperatures bring about much more stress on area services, i.e. water and electric power for building cooling, and complex problems with radars for air visitors management. Dependent on these main vulnerabilities for airports reported in the literature, scientists chose the sensitivity indicators. 

In Framework 2 – Climate risk thanks to serious precipitations , the climatic indicators have been chosen dependent on precipitation thresholds that determine large impacts on airport components. Extraordinary rainfall activities could compromise the drainage capability of the airport, with an improve in flooding. 

Severe rain, soaring seal amount

In Framework 3 – Local weather threat due to sea amount increase, sea level increase and storm surge degree indicators had been picked to describe the coastal flooding. Several airports are crafted together the coasts or in floodplains to aid take-off and landing, but these spots are extra exposed to sea level increase and storm surges. 

To cope with thermal damages thanks to intense temperature functions, runways, taxiways and other buildings ought to be resurfaced with warmth resistant supplies. In spots where higher temperatures can pose a problem to plane just take-offs, adaptation measures incorporate building for a longer time runways or carrying out intercontinental flights in the evening when temperatures fall. 

Adaptation steps

Set up of roofs and walls with vegetation on airport structures are fantastic eco-friendly measures to mitigate the outcomes of extreme temperatures, save vitality and to decrease the move of rainwater.

 To cope with floods, airports will need to put into practice adaptation methods, which generally problem the design of efficient drainage systems as perfectly as the enhancement of adequate warning units.

Other adaptation measures typical to all three frameworks are adhesion of airports to adaptation initiatives aimed at attaining greater recognition of the threat of local climate improve impacts and coverage go over for intense activities, introducing applications for efficient management of damages and losses.

Released on


February 08, 2022