The Energy Collective Group
This group brings together the best thinkers on energy and climate. Join us for smart, insightful posts and conversations about where the energy industry is and where it is going.
Publication
Coastal Storms
This post reviews increases in hurricane and tropical storm (a.k.a. tropical cyclones) landfalls in and near the U.S. A recent article in Science contains an analysis of data for these storms’ behavior from the last 36 years. This analysis determined that the behavior of these storms has changed in a way that made them more likely to increase damage in many coastal areas, including the U.S., and these changes are likely to continue into the future.
Occupied coastal areas more frequently impacted by these storms, as a minimum, will need to harden their electric distribution systems and other infrastructure. Worst case: occupants and infrastructure may need to retreat from the coasts.
Discussions
Jim Hansen's forecast for the next 36 years:
Abstract: Ice Melt, Sea Level Rise, and Superstorms
"If Greenland fresh water [from icemelt] shuts down Atlantic deepwater formation, and cools the North Atlantic several degrees, the increased horizontal temperature gradient will drive superstorms - more powerful than any in modern times. All hell will break loose in the North Atlantic and neighboring lands.
"Such a situation occurred in the last interglacial period 118,000 years ago...there is evidence of superstorms powerful enough for giant waves to toss 1,000-ton megaboulders onto the shore in the Bahamas..."
(what a pessimist...soon the world will be powered by cheap solar panels, batteries, weatherproofed wind turbines, and hamster wheels!)
More Posts
Papers Directory, Third Quarter 2022 Update
This document contains links to all of the major / educational papers I have written and posted to Energy Central. I originally posted this document at the end of 2018. This quarterly update is at the end of the third quarter (September) of 2022.
Paving the Way to Battle Climate Change
How Two Utilities Embraced Open Source to Speed Modernization of the Electric Gri
Africa’s climate transition
This week, Policy Dispatch takes a look into Africa’s energy transition, the main hurdles that the continent’s 54 nations are facing, and its untapped renewable potential with Saliem Fakir, Executive Director at the African Climate Foundation.
The Power Connect -- It's too late says Robert Jensen -- 'An Inconvenient Apocalypse'
According to Robert Jensen - we're prepping for the wrong thing. It's not about whether we should use renewables instead of fossil fuels or EVs instead of ICE cars. No. We should be preparing ourselves - for those of us that survive - for what..
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