Impact of climate change on safety of water infrastructures and response measures
Gao Changsheng
Hu Jiang
Abstract：Under the influence of global climate change,extreme weather events occur frequently,which have great impact on the safety and operational management of water projects and infrastructures. The trend of global climate change and its impact on the safety of water infrastructures are briefly introduced. For example,design standards may no longer meet the requirements of safe operation,leading to a series of disasters,and risks of failure of seawall or estuarine sluice,extreme temperature that affects material performance and structural safety,seawater erosion that shortens the service life of estuarine and coastal water infrastructures,northward migration of termites that results in seepage of embankments in the north,increases frequency of damage of water facilities,and difficulties for water structure regulation and scheduling. Typical cases home and abroad were examined including accidents and failure,emergency response,and severe damage under the impact of climate change. Based on the above,response measures were proposed,such as formulating policies and systems to adapt to climate change,modernization of water project management system and capabilities,talking adaptive engineering measures,strengthening safety assessment and operation management based on risk concept,scientific and technological support and formulation and revision of relevant technical standards. These measures may provide experiences for building adaptability of water infrastructures to climate change,and enhancing pre-disaster adaptability,resilience,and post-disaster recovery to extreme weather events.
Keywords：climate changewater infrastructuresproject safetyresponse measuresextreme weather events
Publication Date：2024-12-27
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 60-67 )