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Weather Matters for Energy pp 65–89Cite as

Climatic Changes: Looking Back, Looking Forward

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Abstract

Why do we need to be concerned about the role of meteorology in the energy system? How large a change in meteorological variables could have adverse effect on energy systems? These are the underlying questions explored in this chapter. In particular, we note that not only is the energy sector at risk from future climate changes, it is also at risk from current hydro-meteorological climate variability and change. It is important therefore to assess the climate observed in recent decades along with the changes we might expect in the future. By examining a selection of meteorological variables, this chapter exposes how climate has been, and will continue to be, variable on climatic timescales. The extent to which such variability (and extremes) could be modified under climate change, and therefore have an impact on the energy sector is discussed. Current understanding of pertinent changes in extreme weather events, and estimates of impacts on the energy sector given climate change are also summarised.

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Acknowledgments

ECMWF ERA-Interim data used in this study have been obtained from the ECMWF data server (http://data-portal.ecmwf.int/). Sea-level data from the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and Jason-2 satellite missions have been downloaded from CSIRO’s site http://www.cmar.csiro.au/sealevel/sl_data_cmar.html. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 3 (CMIP3) climate model outputs have been obtained from (https://esg.llnl.gov/).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Highett, VIC, Australia

    Alberto Troccoli

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  1. Alberto Troccoli
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Correspondence to Alberto Troccoli .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pye Laboratory, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Alberto Troccoli

  2. EDF - R&D, Chatou, France

    Laurent Dubus

  3. Research Applications Laboratory, Haupt Associates, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    Sue Ellen Haupt

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Troccoli, A. (2014). Climatic Changes: Looking Back, Looking Forward. In: Troccoli, A., Dubus, L., Haupt, S. (eds) Weather Matters for Energy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9221-4_3

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