Bermuda - Climate
Although Bermuda's latitude is similar to that of Savannah, Georgia, it is warmer in winter, and slightly cooler in summer. Its humid subtropical climate is warmed by the nearby Gulf Stream, thanks to the westerlies, which carry warm, humid air eastwards over Bermuda, helping to keep winter temperatures above freezing. The climate is humid and, as a result, the summertime heat index can be high, even though mid-August temperatures rarely exceed 30 °C (86 °F). Winters are mild, with average daytime temperatures in January and February around 20 °C (68 °F), although cold fronts, which dominate the local weather for most of the year, bring Arctic air masses that can result in rapid temperature drops.
Atlantic winter storms, often associated with these cold fronts, can produce powerful, gusting winds and heavy rain. Factoring in the wind chill, the felt air temperature in winter can fall below freezing, 0 °C (32 °F), even though the actual temperature rarely drops below 10 °C (50 °F). There has never been a freeze on Bermuda. Bermuda generally marks the northernmost limits of coconuts palms. While they will grow there, they only erratically fruit due to the lack of sustained warmth needed for vigorous fruiting.
The only source of fresh water in Bermuda is rainfall, which is collected on roofs and catchments (or drawn from underground lenses) and stored in tanks. Each dwelling usually has at least one of these tanks forming part of its foundation.
Although there is universal access to clean water and sanitation in Bermuda, all private dwelling units and apartment complexes are required by law to collect and store rainwater in water tanks. Given Bermuda’s limestone-rock base, it is not regarded as feasible to pipe in drinking water (except in some commercial areas) nor is there any central sewage system servicing households; all domestic homes must rely on deep cesspits that are periodically cleaned out by private companies.
Bermuda is very susceptible to hurricanes. The hurricane season in Bermuda normally runs from June to November. Its position along the Gulf Stream means that it is often directly in the path of hurricanes recurving in the westerlies, although they have usually begun to weaken as they approach the island. It is often affected by these hurricanes, although the island's small size means that direct landfalls are rare. The last hurricane to cause significant damage to the islands was category 3 Hurricane Fabian on September 5, 2003. Its eastern eyewall hit the territory and four people were killed.
Bermuda has been spared from major natural disasters since Hurricane Fabian hit the islands in 2003. The most severe events between 2006 and 2010 were three Category 1 hurricanes (Hurricane Florence in September 2006, Hurricane Bill in August 2009, and Hurricane Igor in September 2010) and Tropical Storm Bertha in July 2008; Bermuda also experienced other severe weather events with wind gusts exceeding 50 knots. There were no reported injuries or major infrastructural damages as a result of these events.
According to a green paper on national energy policy issued by the Ministry of Energy in 2009, Bermuda ranked 15th in the world in per capita carbon emissions, producing 11 tons per capita, more than industrialized nations such as Germany and the United Kingdom. Bermuda depends almost exclusively on oil for the production of electricity, and generates an estimated 751 g of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour of electricity sold (compared to 422 g in the United Kingdom). The territory’s electricity expenditures also are among the highest in the world, and cost 42.5 cents per kilowatt hour in 2008, with 48% of that being the fuel adjustment cost.
Vehicle density is estimated at 2,300 per square mile. Fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions are not factored into import duty and relicensing fees, and there are few incentives to drive fuel-efficient automobiles.
Data from the Ministry of Health’s Department of Environmental Health for 2008 indicate that there were 564 reported cases of environmentally related diseases in Bermuda, most of which (483 cases, or 86%) were classified as respiratory diseases.
Historically like other modern developed countries around the world, Bermuda has depended on fossil fuel for energy production for electricity, heating, cooling and transportation. Due to this dependence on external resources for energy, security of supply and production of energy have always been subjects of interest by both government and non-government entities. These groups over the years have studied, held workshops and documented the role of energy on the Island.
Local tides give a tidal range of 0.8–1.2 m depending on the moon. Additionally, there are semi-annual fluctuations related to water temperatures that need to be superimposed. In the early summer, an upper "mixed layer" of warm water develops in the ocean around Bermuda, with temperatures often exceeding 25°C by late summer and extending down to 100 m depth or more. Therefore from April to November the surface ocean waters around Bermuda undergo thermal expansion with a related sea level rise of about 0.25 m. It is this “steric anomaly” which is responsible for the very high tides typically observed towards the end of the calendar year.
Sea levels in Bermuda have fluctuated widely over the past million years. The highest stand recorded was +22 m above present; the lowest -120 m below. Sea level has been rising again since the last ice age approximately 18,000 years ago, but the rate of rise has been staggered. Sea level changes are not consistent across the globe; there is variation between regions as a result of regional differences in temperature, salinity, winds and ocean circulation.
A rise of 0.59 m as predicted by IPCC (2007) means that 186.6 ha of land will be inundated with sea water. A 2 m rise, believed to be the upper limit attainable in the 21st century, would result in 819.3 ha of inundated land.
Climate change could put Bermuda at risk of greater economic damage and dent its sovereign credit rating more than many countries and islands. That was the finding of a speculative report released in January 2016 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Using direct damage data from Swiss Re, the agency estimated the possible adverse effect of climate change on 38 countries.
It based its measurements on the expectation of a once-in-250-year natural catastrophe event striking, and the impact being exacerbated a further 20 per cent to represent the magnified additional damage expected to be inflicted due to climate change.
Projected out 35 years to 2050, the report suggests the costs associated with a once-in-250-year hurricane would increase Bermuda Government’s debt by 16 per cent of gross domestic product. That assessment jumps a further 8 per cent once the additional damaging impact of climate change is factored in.
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