Cambiamenti climatici: a rischio il Texas

Ci siamo ormai abituati a pensare che, mentre i Paesi Occidentali inquinavano e favorivano l’accelerazione dei mutamenti climatici, soltanto i Paesi più poveri, alcuni africani e del Sudamerica, potessero pagarne le conseguenze. Ma chissà, forse se qualche Stato tra i più ricchi cominciasse a capire cosa significa il riscaldamento globale, forse le grandi potenze potrebbero far qualcosa per arginare il fenomeno. E’ il caso del Texas, uno degli Stati più ricchi degli USA, che già oggi sta facendo i conti con uno dei più importanti periodi di siccità della sua storia.

Aree metropolitane come Dallas-Fort Worth e Houston, da tipiche città Occidentali, non hanno mai avvertito la differenza nel cambiamento delle temperature medie perché l’aria condizionata e l’acqua potabile hanno un po’ “mascherato” l’effetto. Ma ora pare che tutte queste comodità siano destinate a sparire o, almeno, a ridursi. L’affidabilità energetica infatti sta cominciando a venir meno a causa del prosciugamento degli stagni di raffreddamento e dei condotti di aspirazione dei fiumi.

Come riporta lo Houston Chronicle, alcune centrali elettriche del Texas rischiano di dover ridurre la propria attività e, se questa siccità dovesse continuare per tutto l’autunno, rischiano persino lo spegnimento. I livelli di acqua nei serbatoi di molti impianti di raffreddamento continuano a scendere, e se questo scenario dovesse protrarsi per tutto il 2012, le conseguenze sarebbero inimmaginabili.

L’EPA, l’agenzia per l’ambiente americana, ha effettuato delle previsioni con alcune delle conseguenze potenziali che un periodo di siccità a breve, medio e lungo termine potrebbe comportare in Texas, in modo da potersi rendere conto in tempo di cosa stiamo andando incontro, e prendere le dovute precauzioni:

Conseguenze a breve termine (1 anno): il Texas è lo Stato con più elevato consumo di carbone degli USA. Gran parte di questo combustibile serve per la produzione di elettricità commerciale e alle caldaie industriali. Per queste operazioni c’è bisogno di molta acqua per il raffreddamento, e quando l’acqua non c’è, le centrali devono essere chiuse. Inoltre il carbone estratto in Texas è carico di zolfo, e questo, senza le operazioni di lavaggio moderne, renderebbe la produzione di energia ed il funzionamento delle caldaie industriali costoso se gli standard di emissione moderni devono essere raggiunti.

Conseguenze a medio termine (2 anni): Circa verso la fine dell’estate 2012, l’aria condizionata, l’illuminazione, le pompe per l’acqua e tutte le macchine che hanno bisogno di energia diventeranno meno affidabili e la vita in Texas, dicono gli autori, potrebbe iniziare ad assomigliare a quella del Messico. Il miracolo economico texano potrebbe cominciare a mostrare le prime crepe, i costi dei gruppi elettrogeni salirebbero alle stelle, ed avviare una piccola impresa sarà impossibile a causa dei costi molto elevati. Il sempre generoso fiume Mississipi non sarà più così prolifico, e così l’acqua diventerebbe un bene molto più prezioso di quanto non lo sia già oggi. Addirittura i rifornimenti idrici domestici non sarebbero assicurati, e questo farebbe sprofondare l’economia dell’area.

Conseguenze a lungo termine (3 anni o più): Nessuno può prevedere il clima regionale da qui a parecchi anni a venire. Visto però ciò che accadrebbe negli anni precedenti, ciò che possiamo immaginare nel 2014 sarebbe veramente disastroso. Il cibo non potrà più essere coltivato e questo, le fibre tessili e tanta altra materia prima che oggi viene prodotta in Texas, dovrebbe essere importata, probabilmente dalla Cina. Il settore portante dell’economia, la petrolchimica, senza acqua non ha futuro, ed anzi, forse l’acqua potrebbe arrivare a valere più del petrolio stesso. Raffinerie e oleodotti non potrebbero essere spostati dove ancora la siccità non sarà così “prepotente”, e l’unica cosa che rimarrebbe da fare sarebbe la danza della pioggia. Ma con il riscaldamento globale così forte, la pioggia rischierebbe di diventare solo un miraggio.

[Fonte: Treehugger]

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