According to the Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report the
probability of cold days becoming less frequent and hot days becoming more
frequent is very likely for the last fifty years. This is definitely true when examining the
graphic below which depicts extreme minimum temperatures for Minneapolis,
Minnesota over the last fifty years which spans from 1962 to the present year
meaning 2012 data is based upon prediction models combined with analysis of
past data. The trend line on the graphic
below reflects a climb from the average lowest temperature of the year being
about negative twenty seven degrees Fahrenheit in 1962 to about negative twenty
degrees Fahrenheit in 2012. Although
there is great variability in the range of lowest yearly temperatures in the
past fifty years there seems to be a five to ten year trend where minimum
temperatures steadily rise for a few years then steadily decline for the
remainder of the period. The greatest
variability of minimum temperatures for Minneapolis took place in the 1990s in which the highest
minimum temperature was negative eleven degrees Fahrenheit which is very close
to the minimum temperature reached thus far this year. Minneapolis’ yearly minimum temperature has
not increased enough to be in zone 6 (negative ten degrees Fahrenheit and above
on the graphic) the overall trend seems to indicate that Minneapolis’ minimum
extreme temperatures are at a steady increase overall.
Many of the extreme events in Minneapolis, Minnesota can be
attributed to the extreme difference in high and low temperatures such as the
trends shown in the second graphic for March.
The graphic shows how a day’s temperature can range can even vary from a
low around ten degrees Fahrenheit to a high around sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Minnesota is currently in a part of five to
ten year precipitation stage where levels are currently low. Therefore the increase in high temperatures
has led Minneapolis into a state of severe drought. Conversely when Minneapolis has a high amount
of precipitation extreme temperature variation can cause extreme snow events
such as the blizzard which caused the roof of the Metrodome to collapse a few
years ago.
Image Source:
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/150023495.html
Image Source:
http://www.startribune.com/blogs/150023495.html
Extreme
variations in temperature and related events can bring about physical problems
such as the aggregate impacts discussed in the Climate Change 2007: Synthesis
Report (IPCC, Pg.19). This can have major economic and physical impacts in a
commuter oriented city like Minneapolis. Any major damage or disasters would
greatly affect the flow of transportation as would any major construction to
fix these problems. Events such as the major blizzard which caused millions of
dollars of damage to the Metrodome and many communities in Minneapolis not only
affected the local community in terms of physical and economic damage. This
event shows how a major blizzard can affect tourism and the economic prosperity
provided to Minneapolis by an entity such as the National Football League.
Seeing these kinds of events certainly does not drive positive interest towards
the local tourism market. Minneapolis has proven to be resilient thus far in
dealing with issues such as major blizzards and the rapid repair of the
Metrodome is a testament to this. As with the issue of aggregate it is harder
to say how much impact weather variation will have on Minneapolis
transportation infrastructure. Since Minneapolis is heavily commuter oriented
there is an immense number of sidewalks, streets, roads, and highways to be
focused on which means adaptation and mitigation could be very costly.
Minneapolis' Climate Action Plan is a community driven program which is aimed at climate change adaptability, mitigation, and sustainability. This Climate Action Plan serves as a roadmap to decreasing the city's carbon footprint by focusing on climate science, the climate history of Minnesota, and the health impacts of climate change (City of Minneapolis, source 2). This program involves providing incentives such as grants and other resources in order to promote community awareness and involvement through public meetings and online sources. Economic incentives such as grants up to $10,000 are provided by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (Minneapolis, source 1). Minneapolis is one of the first cities in the U.S. with a carbon reduction program and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is directly related to the increase in precipitation and consequent flooding and drought. The city's goals of emissions: Reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2015, and 30 percent by 2025 using 2006 as a baseline (as seen on the graphic below) and reduce municipal operations greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 percent annually. Part of this action plan has been teaming up with entities such as Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy to create economic incentives for power plants to utilize green technology including energy efficiency rebates, weatherization funds and low-interest financing as well as incentives for LEED certification (Minneapolis, source 3). Jeff Opperman a representative of the Nature Conservancy believes that Minneapolis has great adaptive potential in relation to climate change and said," They have a sustainable water supply (the Great Lakes); their heat stress rankings are relatively low; and they are less vulnerable to natural disasters that will be exacerbated by climate change, such as floods, landslides and wildfires," (StarTribune.com). Measuring sustainability in terms of indicators is one way that Minneapolis has measured its adaptability and effectiveness of preventative measures (Minneapolis, source 4). Thus far Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) received more than $415,000 in rebates from CenterPoint Energy for installing about 100 high-efficiency boilers and 60 domestic hot water heaters in its high-rise buildings as part of a $33.6 million energy conservation project and over ninety LEED certified housing projects have been implemented or completed. In addition Minneapolis' Zero-Interest Energy Efficiency Loan Program funded almost $100,000 in improvements to Minneapolis businesses which has resulted in benefits from savings on utility bills, while also reducing their need for greenhouse gas-emitting sources of energy (Minneapolis, source 3). Overall the city of Minneapolis has made great efforts to promote community involvement and awareness of the issue of climate change by providing many great incentives and resources to citizens.
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