Research Summaries

Back Climate Change Effects on Navy Island Bases

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Murphree, James T.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary The effects of climate change on Navy island bases are on-going and are likely to be substantial over the next several decades. These effects occur due to changes in sea level, storm activity, and other environmental factors that affect critical infrastructures (e.g., command and control, fuel, power generation, transportation, water resource, sanitation, and other facilities). Our study will identify and assess the macro-level effects of climate change on four Navy fleet concentration island bases: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), Guam, Diego Garcia, and Okinawa. We will focus on: (a) determining the vulnerability of these bases; and (b) identifying approaches for assessing and managing the risks to the bases. We will emphasize: (1) quantifying relationships between specific aspects of climate change and their effects on critical infrastructure components and operations; (2) quantifying the uncertainties associated with projections of climate changes and their operational impacts; and (3) identifying methods for improving Navy planning for climate change. We will leverage prior and on-going studies, and will exploit existing and recently developed data sets and analysis methods. We will work closely with NAVFAC to ensure that our study results are directly applicable to NAVFAC planning processes and operations.
Keywords Climate change Climate change effects Climate change adaptation Navy island bases Navy fleet concentration bases Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) Guam Diego Garcia Okinawa Strategic planning Critical infrastructure Infrastructure planning Infrastructure operations Environmental thresholds
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal