Industry and Climate

Primary industries: exploitation of raw materials and foodstuffs directly from the physical environment (agricultural, forestry, fisheries, mining)

Secondary industries: utilize resources gained from primary activities for further processing (iron and steel work; foodstuff processing)

Tertiary industries: services, professional services, trading and tourism.

Climate plays a role in 5 important areas: 1. Operations and production (design, location, planning of operations) 2. Labor (especially biological influences) 3. Raw materials (storage, exposure, availability) 4. Transportation (route planning, scheduling, hazards) 5. Sales and distribution

Factors contribute to industry location: historical influence, provision of raw materials, availability of fuel and power resources, supply of labor and market consideration.

Climate impact may be hard to assess even if it could be a major one.

(1) Historical influence of climateExample: aircraft industry in California. Early aircraft manufacturers are attracted to locations with mild winter and light wind (flying weather) lower heating degree days.Movie industry in southern California: early cameras required natural light, sunny climate provide long hours of outdoor shooting. Also, geographical diversity in topography, vegetation, landforms etc are convenient within driving distance.

(2) Climate impact raw materialLarge industrial processing plants appear where raw materials are found. Example: meat-packing and grain-processing in American Midwest; location of pulp and paper mills in the forest belt of Canada.

(3) Climate impact on productionWest Africa is the major producer of cocoa. Western European countries are the main producers of chocolate and related products. The hot, humid conditions of the production areas would necessitate high-cost facilities to stop chocolate products from melting; air-conditioned storage and shipping facilities are needed

(4) Climate impact on energy production:Hydroelectric power replies on sustained flow of water over a gradient. This

is most often achieve by construction of dams to create large lakes. Example: Hoover Dan over desert. Water comes from Lake Mead on the Colorado river, precipitation comes from Rockies. (precipitation)

Solar energy: passive solar collectors mounted on the roof, heat energy collected is transferred to home by circulating air or fluids through a pipe system and its often used for water heating. (Sunny region)

Wind Energy: has a long history. Sailing, windmills, wind-driven water pump, etc. Example: wind farms at Atamont Pass in CA has 7000 wind turbines and supplies 1% of California’s energy use. (large wind speed).

(5) Climate Attracts workersExample: rapid growth of the sun-belt states is indicative of the attractiveness

of a warm, almost winter-free environment.

(6) Climate impact on transportationAtmospheric condition for flight taking off, landing and flying condition.

Icing, in-cloud turbulence, optimum cruise latitude, above ground wind.Example: icing: formation of ice on lift-producing surfaces (wings, control

surface propellers) so that smooth flow of air over such airfoils is interrupted. It occurs in clouds temperature slightly above freezing to -20C (-4F) when super-cooled water droplet exist

In cumuliform clouds: formation of clear ice, heavier and more dangersIn stratiform clouds: rime ice (smaller)Turbulence: irregular motion of air over short distances in atmosphere.

Example: downbursts or microburst associated with Thunderstorms. (using Doppler Radar to detect)

Clear-air turbulence: 9-13KM height associated with strong vertical wind sheers and two different air masses on either side of the sheer (need to use microwave radar, optical or laser radar, and infrared sensors to detect

Fog in airports (using cloud seeding)

Shipping: related to marine climate. Avoid violent storms at seas, heavy fogs cause ship accidents; ice-free port for dock the ship. 32F line along 40N of Northwest U.S. In Sandinavia, located at 60N (affected by warm Atlantic ocean current)

Land transportations: snow, ice, fog, flowing dust, frost heave: ice grow in the form of lenses or veins inside soil, resulting surface raising (uneven surface).

Pedestrian transportation:

Minneapolis skywalkSanta Monica 3rd Street Prominade

“ Chicago has been called the “windy” city, the term being used metaphorically to make out that Chicagoans were braggarts. The city is losing this reputation, for the reason that as people got used to it they found most of her claims to be backed up by facts. As usual, people go to extremes in this thing also, and one can tell a stranger almost anything about Chicago today and feel that he believes it implicitly. But in another sense Chicago is actually earning the title of the “windy” city. It is one of the effects of the tall buildings which engineers and architects apparently did not foresee that the wind is sucked down into the streets. Walk past the Masonic Temple or the Auditorium any day even though it may be perfectly calm elsewhere, and you will meet with a lively breeze at the base of the building that will compel you to put your hand to your hat.”

FogsFog: suspension of

very small water droplets in the air the reduces visibility to less than 1KM (5/8th mile)

Fog Hazards

In some years fog causes more deaths in the United States than tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Most of these deaths are caused by auto accidents in poor visibility. Visibility is the criterion for defining fog.

Fog is a cloud consisting of minute droplets or ice crystals that is in contact with the surface of the Earth. Horizontal visibility is reduced to less than one kilometer, according to international standards (George 1951). When visibility is less than 5/16ths of a mile (less than 400 m), it is considered dense fog. It is the reduced visibility which makes fog a hazard. However, air pollutants, especially particulate matter, are also known to reduce visibility. The famous Killer Smog (smoke and fog) of London in December of 1952 not only reduced visibility but resulted in an estimated 4000 deaths (Bach 1972).

Weather-related crashes cost an average of $42 billion annually in the United States from personal injury, loss of life, and property damage (Lombardo, 2000).

The costs to stranded passengers in terms of money and inconvenience may be impossible to calculate. A recent study showed that for an airport hub like Frankfurt/Main, the economic loss per fog hour is about 250,000 euro/hour (Moller et al. 2003).

Fog and Aviation

Fog Collection

• Averages 10 liters/square meter

• Record is over 45 liters/square meter/day

• Can be the primary water supply for a village

London 1952

London

• Soft coal burned in home fireplaces

• PM10 up to 14,000 g/ cubic meter

• Sulfur Dioxide concentrations – 7 times normal

• Excess deaths – estimated as high as 12,000

Fog Dissipation

• Airports & Highways

– Success at airports for cold fog (temp< 32F) Spokane – dry ice

– Fairchild Air Force Base –liquid propane dispensed at high pressure

• Highways? Some attempts

Giant Redwoods May Dry Out; Warming to Blame?

Source: National Geographic News, 2010

Hours visibility <400 m at LAX

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1948 1955 1962 1969 1976 1983 1990 1997 2004

Table 1. Average annual hours visibility < 400m (excludes 1998 for BUR)_________________LAX 1948-2008 74LGB 1948-2008 109LAX 1982-2008 27LGB 1982-2008 39BUR 1982-2008 7CBD 1961-1964 10CBD 2000-2004 3_

Hours visibility <400 m at LGB

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1948 1955 1962 1969 1976 1983 1990 1997 2004

Clouds

Thunderstorms

Severe T-storms: ¾ inch hail and/or wind guests of 50knots. The storm is considered ended 15 minutes after the last thunder clap is heard.In dry climate, t-storms often occur without measurable precipitation

Sporting events

1. Seasons, schedules planned for weather considerations.2. Facilities (indoor/outdoor); consideration of winds, sunshine, lighting, precipitation3. Training-Olympics, boxing, baseball (Arizona vs Florida)4. Baseball physics Try: http://profhorn.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/baseball/homerun.html

TOURISM

The world’s fastest growing industry. In some places, are the main source of national income. Example: Bahamas and Cayman islands (80%)

If not include cultural attraction (Paris, London, Religious Rome or Mecca), selection of a site to spend a vacation is most often weather relatedConditions1. Reliable weather at all time (Sun and sands): Caribbean and Hawaiian islands; Canary Islands or the Riviera Coasts2. A set of condition for specialized sports (mountain resorts of the Alps and Rockies depends on snow; wind for surfing in lakes or sea; longer playing season for golfing; hot-air ballooning, kite, hiking3. Indoor stadiums (climate controlled environment). Super Bowl and college Bowl games are either indoor stadiums or sun-belt cities

Impact on commerceClimate affects business on malls or shopping centersRegional climate determines the demand for the type of goods sold, weather

conditions influences the day-to-day variations in spendingIn large seasonal variation areas, stocks in store also change greatlyBoth good and bad weather can influence retail sales

Bad weather: prevent people from reaching stores (snow or people does not want get out of the house)

Heatwave: lead people spend extra time in shopping mall

Good weather: sunny, warm cause people enjoying weather by going to beach or working in their garden, less money is spent shopping

Insurance industry rely climate info to assess risk

Military operations1. History. Several battles influenced by weather (Napolean’s defeat in Russia; and Waterloo-rain, Spanish Armada-storms, Invasion of Normandy-low clouds, fog; invasion of Japan-typhoon,….)2. Aircraft operations-cloud cover hides aircraft or target, paratroopers; fog poor for air attack, good for commandos. Chemical warefare considers winds.3. Amphibious assault-storm waves; soil conditions4. Clothing and equipment. Must be able to sustain extremes of that climatic zone. Military clothing usually very well suited, since not connected to fashion.