Monday,
May 20, 2024
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Note: ETGS members participating virtually will receive an email with info for attending/logging into the meeting.
Special May 2024 Presentation
How Climate Change Impacts Infrastructure
By
Cynthia Palomares, PG, PE
Abstract
The terms global warming and
climate change are often used interchangeably, but the two phenomena
are different. Global warming is the rise in global mean
temperature due to the release of heat trapping gasses like carbon
dioxide and methane. Climate change is a more general term that
refers to changes in many climatic factors (such as temperature and
precipitation) from the global to the local scale. These changes
are happening at different rates and in different ways in response
to global warming. The timing and amount of rainfall is changing,
which is generally resulting in more severe storms. In addition,
global warming and associated climate change is shrinking ice
caps, melting glaciers, causing water shortages, causing sea level
to rise and increasing wildfire risk. The climate is becoming more
extreme in response to global warming. As a result, infrastructure
(e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) are being impacted at
an alarming rate. A record number of hurricanes, wildfires and
floods cost the world $210 billion in damage in 2020. Specific
weather related impacts, and potential mitigation to infrastructure
will be discussed.
Biography
Cynthia Delaney Palomares, P.G.,P.E. has over 30 years of experience as both
an Engineering Geologist and Environmental Engineer. Her last
position was as an Adjunct Instructor (retired), at Texas A&M
University, Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) in College
Station, TX, from 2016-2020. As an adjunct instructor, Ms. Palomares conducted training courses for environmental professionals
for certification of Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response. Prior to working for TEEX, Ms. Palomares was a Project
Manager, at Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX,
from 1993-2016. As a project manager in the Industrial & Hazardous
Waste Permits Section, Ms. Palomares reviewed and evaluated
hazardous waste permit applications, compliance reports and notices
of waste management activities for both regulatory and technical
completeness to ensure compliance with applicable hazardous waste,
radioactive waste and Texas Risk Reduction Program rules and
regulations. In addition, Ms. Palomares was a member of the Waste
Permits Division Disaster Response team and was also a project
manager for RCRA Authorization rule projects that adopt EPA
hazardous waste amendments into Texas Administrative Code
regulations. Prior to her position as a project manager in the I&HW
Permits Section, Ms. Palomares conducted technical reviews and
processed applications for underground injection control (UIC) and
in situ leachate uranium mining facilities in the UIC/Radioactive
Waste Section of the TCEQ. In 2016, Ms. Palomares was recognized for
25 years of service with the State of Texas. Prior to employment
with the TCEQ, Ms. Palomares was employed as a staff scientist for
Westinghouse Hanford Company in Richland, Washington for 3 years.
Ms. Palomares earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Geology
from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, and a Master of
Science in Engineering Geology from Texas A&M University, College
Station, TX in 1990. She is both a licensed Professional Geologist
and Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas.
AEG Experience: Ms. Palomares joined AEG in 1986 as a student member
of the Lone Star student chapter at Texas A&M University. In 1990,
she was awarded the "Best Student Presentation Award" at the Texas
Section Spring Meeting. In 2011, she was awarded the "Floyd T.
Johnston Outstanding Engineering Geologist Award" at the Texas
Section Fall Meeting. In 2022, she was awarded the Association-level
"Floyd T. Johnston Outstanding Engineering Geologist Award" at the
AEG Annual Awards Banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada. Service to AEG
includes the following positions: Lone Star Student Chapter Officer
(1986-1990), Washington Section Field Trip Coordinator (1991-1993),
Texas Section Board (2001-2012), 2010 Shlemon Specialty Conference
Chair on "Gulf Coast Subsidence and Sea-level Rise", Governance
Committee member (2010-2012), Section/Chapter Support Committee
Chair (2012-2018), AEG Strategic Planning Committee Co-Chair
(2014-2016) , DEI Committee Member (2020-present), AEG Executive
Council (2016-2021), Floyd T. Johnston Outstanding Engineering
Geologist Award (2022), AEG/GSA Dr. Richard H. Jahn's Distinguished
Lecturer in Environmental and Engineering Geology (2023-2024).
Greetings, and welcome to the Special May 20, 2024 ETGS virtual meeting.
If you attend via Zoom as a courtesy please mute your cell phone or the microphone in your laptop/tablet to minimize background noise and feedback echos. We will also make an effort to mute all participants - at least until the presentation is finished. Please use the chat feature to type any comments or questions you may have. We recommend that you send questions for the speaker to "everyone" so all participants can see the question. In the interest of time, we may hold the Q&A at the end of the presentation.
We will create an in-person and virtual attendance list. It is not always possible
to tell who is participating on-line, especially for those joining by phone,
so please email
etgs@live.com
to be listed on the attendance sheet. Let us know exactly how your
name should appear on the list. We will add a note explaining the
lack of signatures due to remote participation and have an ETGS officer sign as usual.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we try this online
format. As always, we welcome and appreciate your feedback and
suggestions for improvement.
ETGS News:
New ETGS mugs are available! If you would like to purchase a mug, email etgs@live.com and include "ETGS Mug" in the subject line.
|
ETGS Coffee & Beer Mugs... |
We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.
ETGS is a volunteer organization. We need your help to
continue serving those interested in the geology of East
Tennessee and beyond. Please email us at
etgs@live.com
if you would consider assisting in one of the following open
positions. It is a great opportunity to expand your personal
and professional network
President
Tony McClain
Vice
President
David Carlone
Secretary
J.
Brad Stephenson
Treasurer
Seaira Stephenson
Webmaster/Social Media Coordinator
Bob
Gelinas
Page updated April 21, 2024 |