Transportation Climate Change Sensitivity Matrix
The Transportation Climate Change Sensitivity Matrix provides information on the sensitivity of six transportation modes and sub-modes to 11 potential climate impacts. Sensitivity is the degree to which an asset or a system responds to a given change in a climate stressor; this parameter is a key part of evaluating vulnerability and risk. Planners can use information from the matrix to screen for assets that are particularly sensitive and, therefore, potentially vulnerable to climate change.
Transportation assets covered in the matrix are (1) rail, (2) ports and waterways, (3) airports and heliports, (4) oil and gas pipelines, (5) bridges, and (6) roads and highways.
Climate stressors considered are (1) increased temperature and extreme heat, (2) precipitation-driven inland flooding, (3) sea level rise/extreme high tides, (4) storm surge, (5) wind, (6) drought, (7) dust storms, (8) wildfires, (9) winter storms, (10) changes in freeze/thaw, and (11) permafrost thaw.
The tool features
- easy-to-use menus to select transportation assets and climate stressors for evaluation,
- reports showing sensitivity of categories of transportation assets to specific climate stressors, and
- extensive references for climate change effects on transportation.
