THIS MAP IS UGLY

Low-lying areas surrounding the San Francisco Bay will likely experience frequent flooding by 2050, seriously impacting day-to-day life in Palo Alto.

Sea levels in the Bay Area are likely to rise between 7.2 and 13.2 inches (67% probability). The likelihood of at least one 3-feet annual flood in Palo Alto by 2050 is projected to be between 76% and 100%.

This would affect diverse Palo Alto facilities (07), such as the Palo Alto Airport, the Palo Alto Golf Course, the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, and the Municipal Service Center; and roads (09), such as Highway 101 and surrounding roads, critical underground electrical, gas, water and wastewater utilities, as well as emergency response capabilities. Residential neighborhoods (10) within the area would be vulnerable to regular surface flooding and a consequent rise in insurance costs.

The submerged ecosystem of Palo Alto Baylands would no longer be as effective a barrier to sources of flooding, or in sequestering carbon. These changes will also negatively alter the natural habitat for many endangered species of residing and migrating birds and other wildlife (08).

Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4]

According to current climate models we can expect the annual average temperature to rise by +3.9 ºF (or +3.1 ºF in case of emission reduction).

The number of extreme heat days (over 90.3 ºF) is expected to rise from an average of 5 days a year (baseline 1961-1990) to more than double by 2050. Heat wave likelihood will rise from current 62% to 84% (30 years ago that likelihood was 46%).

This temperature increase will have a direct effect on human health (02), wildfire risk (01) (02) (03), quality of life including play and recreation (11), and school closures (06).

Rise in temperatures, decrease in rainfall, and accompanying drought will also make the Palo Alto ecosystem inhospitable to many plants (13) as well as animal species (08) of birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.

An indirect effect of the warming climate will be energy use, as we all try to keep our homes cool in the heat. By 2050, we can expect this to amount to an increase in power (03) consumption of around 200 days annually, bringing our electricity increase up by 22.20%.

Sources: [5], [6], [7]

The average area projected to be at yearly risk from burning as a result of drought will go up from about 182.0 acres to around 265.8–287.4 acres by 2050.

Drought will have an affect on food (04) availability, product choice, and prices.

Greater risk of wildfires in our open spaces (01) such as the Foothills Park, may lead to habitat loss and preventive park closures.

Persistent drought would likely also lead to strict cutbacks to non-essential water use, making our public lawns (05) go brown.

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Wildfire smoke particle pollution has been shown to have serious effects on human health (02).

This type of particle pollution has been shown to cause a number of acute respiratory health conditions, including reduced lung function, bronchitis, and worsening asthma, while also increasing risk of a vast array of health problems, from cardiovascular illness to birth defects.

Particle pollution is therefore expected to put a strain on our health services, lead to occasional closures of preschools and K-12 schools (06), and limitations on outdoor recreation and play (11).

Sources: [5], [8], [9], [10], [11]