Impacts of Climate Change on Built Environments - Research Proposal Example

Name Task Tutor  Date Research study on impacts of climate change on built environments Problem Statement According to (Parry, Martin 2007). Most studies have elaborated on the issues of potential ravages and impacts that the climate tend to have on the entire built environments. During the entire lifespan it has become apparent that the impacts of the on going climate change have some significant consequences on the built in environment in several areas. It is presumed that buildings should remain stable and be in good condition for at least six decades. However, the scenarios of the future changes in levels of precipitation, wind speeds, temperature, relative humidity and the frequency of extreme weather events poses great threats to the stability of the built in environment within the entire glob.(Parry, Martin 2007). Abstract The following study will tend to elaborate on the on the factors within the ongoing climatic change that pose great threat to the built environment. The study will also provide insight in how these factors have over the course of time impacted the built environment Furthermore the study will seek to review the findings of the existing studies on the impacts of climate change in built environment. Finally the research study will seek to investigate the ways in the negative impacts brought about by climate change on the built environment can be encountered. The hypothesis of this research study will revolve around the following questions: What ideas within the current climate change pose great risk on the built environment? How do the said factors impact the built in environment? What are the possible solutions of addressing the effects that are accompanied by climate change on the built in environment? In most cases the review incorporation with the analytical skills of given literature review will be deployed as the main methodological tools in this study. The literatures to be analyzed and reviewed in this study revolve around given articles, journals and books written by experts in the field of climate change and its impacts. Questionnaire and interviews will be incorporated as data collection methodologies in this research study. Furthermore, positivistic methodologies such as surveys, longitudinal and Cross-sectional studies will be incorporated in this research study. The survey that is to be Conducted will involve selecting a particular built environment that is subjected to severe climate change thereafter the impacts of this built environment will be evaluated. In regards to the study data analysis will involve scrutinizing and modeling the collected data with the objective of depicting crucial information, proposing recommendations that seek to provide remedies of addressing the impacts brought about by climate change on the built in environment. Basically, the main goal of this research study will be create awareness on the impact that climate change has on the built environment. Bearing in mind that climate change poses great threat to the built environment, The study will try to identify insight ways and means on how to minimize or avert the harmful effects posed to the built environment as a result of climate change. Methodology In most cases Questionnaire and interviews will be incorporated as data collection methodologies in this research study. Moreover, positivistic methodologies such as surveys, longitudinal and Cross-sectional studies will be incorporated in this research study. The survey that is to be Conducted will involve selecting a particular built environment that is subjected to severe climate change thereafter the impacts of this built environment will be evaluated. The review and critical analysis of particular literature will be used as the main methodological tools in this study. The literatures to be analyzed and reviewed in this study revolve around articles, journals and books written by experts in the field of climate change and its impacts. Introduction In reference to (Parry, Martin 2007).Building environments can be termed as any building or structure that has been constructed by man by use machineries or any other means that are supported. Such places are mainly used for residential purposes in case of buildings and other purposes for various structures. Climate change could mean the emergence of new and unusual climatic conditions that result mainly from effects of human activities or natural causes. Changes in climate may be taken to carry desirable and undesirable results. However in most cases they carry negative consequences that may have bad effects on built environments. Every day because of the activities of man, atmospheric conditions keep changing. Change in atmospheric conditions especially in the area of air pollution has had adverse effects on built environments. Air pollution and general pollution of the atmosphere for example thermal pollution has effects like global warming that change the climate of the world. The global warming and climate change are things that in today’s world have become an eye sore. A couple of years ago no body knew of them. Surprisingly, the rate of industrialization of many countries of the world has grown tremendously resulting in huge contributions to global warming and climate change. Sad enough, before climate change could be known people were putting up buildings, ( Asimakopoulos et al 2001). These buildings and other built structures may not have been constructed in a way that they can withstand changing atmospheric conditions. This is a major problem today with built environments. Climate change may involve excessively high temperatures, high amounts of prolonged rainfall, strong winds, too much cold or high humidity that poses a threat to built environments. Such sudden occurrences that have not been known in the past may test the strength of structures and find it weak. Problems develop when built up structures cannot withstand some atmospheric conditions. For example some tall structures not built with strong winds in consideration may be blown off when those winds begin coming due to changes in climate. Similarly things that are not made to stand high humidity or temperatures may be affected when these parameters go high. In Today’s constructions therefore need to be made in a manner that they can withstand changes in atmospheric conditions. This can help to avoid renovation expenses that can be incurred incase of damage. It may not be possible to predict what kind of change in climate will befall a particular place. However it is possible to prepare for any possible occurrence that can be expected basing on the current trends of atmospheric conditions (Sue Roaf et al 2009).. This study is important since it examines the effects of changing climate on built environments and possible ways of preventing disastrous consequences on built structures. It therefore proposes ways through which these problems can be solved. The study also indicates that with the change in climate, there are many factors that may come into play, (Sue Roaf et al 2009). These are the things that will cause facial and structural changes on built environments. It is necessary to know what factors of climate change are directly or indirectly involved in the alteration of built structures or destruction of built environments. Some factors may prove to be more important than others in this case. Again it may be necessary to know how these factors operate in order to cause the said effects on what types of built environments. When trying to discuss how built environments can be made to withstand climate change, it is important for us to understand what type of factors we are dealing with and how they impact the built environments. This will help to come up with the right proposals and recommendations that can help minimize the negative effects on built environments. This study involves a survey that was carried out through use of questionnaires and interviews to get respondents’ views on climate change and its effects on built environments. It involved a study of a specific built environment under the effects of climate change. Observation of the condition and state of this environment gave a clear picture of what climate change can do on built environments. Respondents’ views and observations helped to create a comprehensive picture of what has been happening to the environment prior and after the change in environment. Review of literature by other people on climate change and built environments serves as a major tool of methodology. This is done in order to have an idea of what other researchers have found out on the same topic. Their findings and views are of great importance since they will help to reinforce the idea of climate change that affects built environments in a negative way. Literature review unearths many ways through which climate change impacts on built environments. It gives the factors that are responsible for different kinds of impacts and the possible ways through which these problems can be solved. It will therefore help to put this study into a theoretical context whereby its objectives and aims are supported by the findings of other qualified researchers. This will give this study credibility so that its results and findings will be trusted and can therefore be adopted without question by people who need them. Literature review therefore serves as a major way of data collection and also helps to place the study in a place of acceptance in the scholarly world. Literature Review In regards to, (Sue Roaf et al 2009).climate change has been on the agenda of the world for some time now. The first time it was talked about was in the 1960s. War within the changes in the built environments has been on but at a slow speed. Any change in the normal climatic conditions is bound to cause problems on static non changing environments for example built environments. Built environments may not be in a position to stand some of the changes in climate and so there is need to put measures in place to help them cope. There are many factors that contribute to climate change. Most of these factors however could be controlled since they emanate from mans activities in industrialization, transport and other activities. The principal causative agent of climate change is the gas carbon dioxide. This gas is classified as a green house gas because of its ability to cause the green house effect in the atmosphere. Green house gases are known to form a blanket around the earth which prevents heat from escaping into outer space. This heat contributes to thermal pollution thereby raising the earthly temperatures. Raised temperatures have various effects on water, air, wind and humidity all of which affect built environments in one way or the other. Factors causing climate change There are a number of factors that bring about climate change. One of these factors is the variation of the earth’s orbit. There is a theory that relates climate change to variation in the earth’s orbit. This theory is called Milankovitch’s theory. It claims that changing distances in the orbit of the earth results in variation in the solar energy reaching the surface of the earth. If it increases then there is overheating. Climate change is also caused by the effects of gases produced from man’s activities like combustion of fossil fuels as indicated in the photograph bellow. Figure 1.1 Air pollution hrough smoke from factories (Sue Roaf et al 2009). Smoke produced from factories in heavily industrialized nations carries harmful oxides from the fuels being burnt. Automobiles also produce harmful gases when they burn fossil fuels containing carbon and sulfur,(Sue Roaf et al 2009). This result in the production of carbon and sulfur compounds that are harmful when released in to the atmosphere. Many gases cause retention of heat on the earth. However carbon dioxide is taken to be the principal one. Others include methane, nitrous oxides, Hydro Fluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and SulphurHexaFluoride (SFs). These gases act through many ways to cause climate change. For example there is the destruction of the ozone layer which shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays by ChloroFluoroCarbons and oxides of Nitrogen. When this layer is destroyed the earth receives large quantities of heat that in most cases is unnecessary thus contributing to the rising world temperatures. The earth is cushioned and that heat held back by green house gases such as carbon dioxide. This heat continues to build up with the day and has disastrous effects on built environments. Retention of heat can also be caused by dust ash and other particles in the atmosphere. These particles may come from volcanic eruptions or other natural causes,( Asimakopoulos et al 2001).Changes in the global or microclimate of a place can easily be caused by forest cover destruction. Trees play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle by pulling water through their roots from the soil and releasing it to the atmosphere. They also create a cooling effect on the land when they intercept the sun’s rays. The photograph below shows desertification caused by deforestation. Fig: 102. Desertification caused by deforestation. ( Asimakopoulos et al 2001). When forest cover is destroyed, there is a gap that is created in the water cycle. In the long term this may result in desert encroachment or spread of arid conditions where formally there was plenty of water. Arid conditions promote global warming and high earthly temperatures. Ocean currents are responsible for the movement of huge amounts of heat on the earth. Winds blowing on the sea drive the patterns of ocean currents. The atmosphere interacts with the sea to cause things like Elnino. Ocean water circulates from the poles to the equator so that cold water temperatures on the poles can be modified. The same ocean water works with the atmosphere to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Changes occurring in the circulation of ocean water can affect climatic stability when carbon dioxide moves from the ocean to the atmosphere and back (Sue Roaf et al 2009). Effects of climate change on built environments Pollution of the air with carbon dioxide coupled with excessive amounts of rainfall can cause the carbon dioxide in the air to be washed down by the rain water. This combination results into the formation of weak carbonic acid in the rain water or what is commonly referred to as acid rain this kind of rainfall is known to cause the destruction of iron roofing on buildings. Places with polluted air have so many instances of rusting house roofs,( Asimakopoulos et al 2001). Climate change has been known to include unusual patterns and magnitudes of blowing winds. These winds may result in heavy destruction of built environments. Winds do blow away buildings, air port structures and other things. They can also transport sand and heap it on built structures thus destroying them and reducing their lifespan. Wind has in the past blocked roads and covered rails with sand rendering them impassable. Another destructive tendency of wind is when it takes part in the growth of a fire that may have been kindled through other means. Wind can quickly aid in the spread of fires that can end up destroying buildings and other built structures. An example is the great London fire in1616 that went very far because of the help of strong winds. Winds can also blow away rain bearing clouds and in the process cause persistent drought and high temperatures, (Newton et al 2008). Combating climate change and its effects in built environments In most cases the effects of climate change on built environments can be managed with better design of built structures and reduction of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. One way of dealing with climate change is dealing with the causes of climate change. This will involve the world’s wealthiest and heavily industrialized countries cutting down their emissions in order to save the situation. However since the discovery of the increasing levels of emissions and especially those of carbon dioxide, these efforts have been going on. The major industrialized countries of the world have met in various conventions and have come up with documents for example the Kyoto protocol that need to be adhered to in order to help reduce the possibilities of climate change(Hargreaves 2003). When this is done then it means that all built structures will have mechanisms of overcoming any force coming from the effects of change in climate. For example in places with acid rain buildings should be constructed with materials that will withstand the acid rain and have no reactions taking place. Architectural designs should take into considerations things like strong winds, excessive heat and floods. Places with increasing levels of floods should have structures done with strong foundations to avoid being swept off during the rainy periods, (Asimakopoulos et al 2001). Issues of climate change should be given priority in national and international forums in order to create awareness about them to everyone. There are many ways through which individuals can help combat climate change. For example through energy conservation we can reduce the levels of thermal pollution which contribute to global heat. High levels of awareness can be achieved if these things can be taught in schools and colleges to young people who are able to change the future of the world (Sue Roaf et al 2009). On a global scale people need to embark on massive tree planting programs which can help lift the amount of forest cover. At the same time they have to desist from felling trees since this contributes to climate change. Forests act as a sink for carbon dioxide since it plays a big role in the carbon cycle. Deforestation causes excess carbon dioxide to exist in the atmosphere and therefore acts as a green house gas. Energy use needs to be checked. The use of energy especially in buildings for heating during winter seasons should be cut down. Statistics show that buildings produce 18% of the global carbon monoxide emissions and 4% of NO production, (Hargreaves 2003). Conclusion In conclusion built environments can be affected by the climatic changes due to the various effects that are accompanied by the respective climatic factors this may include drastically rainfall amounts, wind patterns, sun shine, humidity and other factors. Climate change may also be hampered by human activities and natural causes. Natural causes cannot be controlled by man and they include gases and particles from volcanic eruptions, changes in the distance of the sun from the earth, the earth’s orbital changes and ocean-atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Human causes are centered on the production of green house gases like methane and carbon dioxide together with CFCs and other gases that pollute the atmosphere or deplete the ozone layer. Green house gases retain heat on the earth thus causing high atmospheric temperatures (Sue Roaf et al 2009). Finally appropriate means of technology has to be adopted so that better ways of building strong and resilient structures can be invented. Structures that can withstand the present and potential climatic conditions need to be built if the effects of climatic changes on them are to be combated (Hargreaves 2003). This research study was aimed at finding out the impacts of climate change on built environments and how these effects can be controlled. References D.N Asimakopoulos et al; Energy and climate in the urban built environment. Amazon publishers.2001.pg, 100. pg 402. Hargreaves, Rachel. Mitigating the impacts of climate change on the built environment. New York: Branz Publishers. Newton, Peter, Hampson, Keith & Drogmuller, Robin. Technology, Design and Process Innovation in the Built Environment, UK: Taylor & Francis Publishers. 2008. Parry, Martin. Climate Change 2007: u, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Sue Roaf, David Chrichton and Ferggus Nico; Adapting buildings and Cities for climate change. A 21st Century survival guide. Amazon Publishers. 2009. Pg.30, pg 302 . Read More