Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the government’s role in adaptation to climate change

Abstract Individuals and societies have always adapted to change, whether catastrophic or slow onset. Over the last two centuries, however, governments have significantly extended their role as ultimate social manager of risk.  It is as yet unclear whether, how, or to what extent governments will add adaptation to climate change to their portfolio of responsibilities.  This report investigates this question on the basis of review and analysis of economic and policy thinking on the issues, and by using a new dataset on the 2011 Brisbane flood. Uncertainties about the future impacts of climate change obviate definitive conclusions about future adaptation actions and insights for specific situations cannot be generalised.  Economic precepts suggest that governments should limit intervention to cases of genuine market failure, such as the provision of information on likely impacts of climate change including at the local level, or to support for people affected by uninsurable events.  But any role as ‘insurer of last resort’ needs to be circumscribed by rigorous social cost-benefit analysis to ensure that government intervention is beneficial, in the context of the need to adapt to climatic changes.  Although the phenomenon of ‘government failure’ is generally ignored in the adaptation literature (and often by policy makers), it too can stymie efficient adaptation.  A standard justification for government intervention is market failure, including misperception of risk by individuals and businesses.  We use Brisbane property prices before and after the January 2011 flood, as well as property-level flood risk information to test the hypothesis that buyers do not accurately perceive the risk of riverine flooding.  The results indicate that buyers do take risk into account, and even discriminate between zones of differing flood risk.  The concepts of ‘government as insurer of last resort’ and ‘government as insurer of first resort’ as alternative forms of intervention in markets are examined with a view to disambiguation.  In contrast to much current thinking in academic and government circles, we conclude that the government should not act as an ‘adaptor of first or last resort’.  Rather, government can best contribute to efficient adaptation by reducing the economic costs and institutional barriers to adaptation faced by individuals and organisations.Comprehensive micro-economic reform, and the promotion of institutional flexibility are potential ‘no regrets’ strategies because they will also promote economic growth and welfare.Please cite as: Dobes, L, Jotzo, F, Doupé, P 2013 Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the Government’s role in adaptation to climate change, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 81.Individuals and societies have always adapted to change, whether catastrophic or slow onset. Over the last two centuries, however, governments have significantly extended their role as ultimate social manager of risk.  It is as yet unclear whether, how, or to what extent governments will add adaptation to climate change to their portfolio of responsibilities.  This report investigates this question on the basis of review and analysis of economic and policy thinking on the issues, and by using a new dataset on the 2011 Brisbane flood. Uncertainties about the future impacts of climate change obviate definitive conclusions about future adaptation actions and insights for specific situations cannot be generalised.  Economic precepts suggest that governments should limit intervention to cases of genuine market failure, such as the provision of information on likely impacts of climate change including at the local level, or to support for people affected by uninsurable events.  But any role as ‘insurer of last resort’ needs to be circumscribed by rigorous social cost-benefit analysis to ensure that government intervention is beneficial, in the context of the need to adapt to climatic changes.  Although the phenomenon of ‘government failure’ is generally ignored in the adaptation literature (and often by policy makers), it too can stymie efficient adaptation.  A standard justification for government intervention is market failure, including misperception of risk by individuals and businesses.  We use Brisbane property prices before and after the January 2011 flood, as well as property-level flood risk information to test the hypothesis that buyers do not accurately perceive the risk of riverine flooding.  The results indicate that buyers do take risk into account, and even discriminate between zones of differing flood risk.  The concepts of ‘government as insurer of last resort’ and ‘government as insurer of first resort’ as alternative forms of intervention in markets are examined with a view to disambiguation.  In contrast to much current thinking in academic and government circles, we conclude that the government should not act as an ‘adaptor of first or last resort’. Rather, government can best contribute to efficient adaptation by reducing the economic costs and institutional barriers to adaptation faced by individuals and organisations.Comprehensive micro-economic reform, and the promotion of institutional flexibility are potential ‘no regrets’ strategies because they will also promote economic growth and welfare.Please cite as: Dobes, L, Jotzo, F, Doupé, P 2013 Adaptor of last resort? An economic perspective on the Government’s role in adaptation to climate change, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 81.&nbsp

Finite Element Model Optimization of the FalconSAT-5 Structural Engineering Model

Space launch vehicles produce tremendously harsh environments for their payloads. One of the worst contributors to this harsh environment is vibration. Launch vehicle contractors require accurate dynamic models in order to perform coupled loads analyses with each payload to mitigate risks. Accurate predictions of the dynamic response of the payload are not achieved easily. The Finite Element (FE) method has proven to be the best approach in creating accurate dynamic models of complex structures. To improve the agreement between an FE model and the structure it represents, a common practice is to `tune\u27 or adjust parameters of the FE model to match experimentally measured data. In order to collect spatially dense and accurate dynamic responses from a satellite, a Polytec laser vibrometer is used which measures the Doppler shift to determine the frequency response from an excitation. To illustrate the benefits of employing this approach, a process is developed to measure dense modal data and tune an FE model of the US Air Force Academy\u27s FalconSAT-5 Structural Engineering Model. The first step in the process developed in this research involves measuring and tuning models of the satellite structure panels individually. In tuning the structural panels, material stiffness is the major design variable. The tuned FE models of the panels are integrated into the full satellite model which is then tuned based on the spring constant of the connections between the panels. The first eight modes of each side panel, six modes of the top panel, and five modes of the base panel were tuned with eigenvalues matching measured natural frequencies within 2%. Next, the first five modes ranging through 154 Hz were tuned on the full satellite FE model. Predicted natural frequencies were within 3% of measured values for most cases and modes. Modal assurance criterion values comparing tuned FE model eigenvectors and measured mode shapes decreased with increasing numbers of modes tuned, but remained above 0.75 through tuning five modes

Genealogical studies of selected Australian barramundi (Lates calcarifer) using mtDNA : Implications for stock transfer to the Kimberley region of Western Australia

This study resulted from concerns for the present and proposed movement of barramundi (Lates catcarifer) across presumed population genetic boundaries into the Kimberley region of Western Australia for net-pen aquaculture and a recreational fishery development in dams no longer available to seasonal barramundi dispersal. Direct DNA sequencing of the non-recombining, maternally inherited mitochondrial genome of barramundi thought to represent wild populations from a broad section of a still wider Australian range were used for phylogenetic reconstructions that support hypotheses for historic gene flow between Kimberley and other populations during Recent sea level fluctuations. Nil or low levels of genetic diversity in samples beyond the Kimberley were reflected in highly significant estimates of population genetic subdivision and low gene flow between the contemporary Kimberley population and elsewhere. The observed population genetic structure of western Australian barramundi is discussed with regard to the island and isolation by distance models, however limited sampling and an absence of demographic data leaves a conclusion problematic. Stochastic, but long distance gene flow is predicted within Kimberley barramundi, and is discussed in relation to a distinct east-trending environmental cline that is thought to influence habitat availability and subsequent juvenile dispersal. The effects of hybridization due to stock enhancement or escapement are discussed in the context of the management objective, which is to maintain genetic diversity. Given this, there are clear implications for hatchery practices and wild fishery management in the Kimberley, which leaves the present translocation of barramundi a questionable practice that should not occur unless no contravention of the management objective can be assured

Optimal Attitude Control of Agile Spacecraft Using Combined Reaction Wheel and Control Moment Gyroscope Arrays

This dissertation explores the benefits of combined control moment gyroscope (CMG) and reaction wheel array (RWA) actuation for agile spacecraft. Agile spacecraft are capable of slewing to multiple targets in minimum time. CMGs provide the largest torque capability of current momentum exchange actuation devices but also introduce singularity events in operation. RWAs produce less torque capability than CMGs but can achieve greater pointing accuracy. In this research, a combined RWA and CMG (RWCMG) system is evaluated using analytical simulations and hardware experiments. A closed-loop control scheme is developed which takes advantage of the strengths of each actuator set.The CMGs perform slews for a representative target field. Borrowing from variable-speed CMG theory, a system of switching between CMG and RWA actuation allows the RWA to assume control of the spacecraft when desired pointing tolerance is met for a given target. During collection, the CMG gimbals may travel along null motion trajectories towardpreferred angles to prepare for the next slew. Preferred gimbal angles are pre-computed off-line using optimization techniques or set based on look-up tables. Logic is developed to ensure CMG gimbal angles travel the shortest path to the preferred values. The proportional-integral-derivative, quaternion feedback, and nonlinear Lyapunov-based controllers are assessed for the RWCMG system. Extended and unscented Kalman filter techniques are explored for improved accuracy in analytical simulation. Results of RWCMG hardware experiments show improvements in slew capability, pointing accuracy, and singularity avoidance compared to traditional CMG-only systems

Small Intensely Fluorescent Cells in Culture: Role of Glucocorticoids and Growth Factors in Their Development and lnterconversions with other Neural Crest Derivatives

The neural crest gives rise to a number of adrenergic derivatives, including sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells, which contain catecholamines (CAs) but differ in other morphological and functional characteristics. Small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells, which exist primarily as a minority cell population in autonomic ganglia, are a third cell type in the sympathoadrenal branch of the neural crest lineage. In some respects these cells appear intermediate in phenotype between sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells. We established pure dissociated cell cultures of SIF cells from rat superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and used these to study the role of environmental factors in SIF cell development and the relationship of these cells to the other cell types of the sympathoadrenal lineage. When cells from neonatal rat SCG were grown for 3 weeks in the presence of glucocorticoid and in the absence of nerve growth factor (NGF), pure cultures of SIF cells developed. The properties of the cells included (i) small cell size and the occasional presence of short neurites, (ii) intense CA histofluorescence and immunoreactivity for CA synthetic enzymes, (iii) synthesis and storage of CA from radioactive precursors, and (iv) characteristic ultrastructure. The concentration of the glucocorticoid and the presence or absence of non-neuronal cell factors influenced which types of SIF cells developed. In micromolar glucocorticoid most of the cells resembled adrenal chromaffin or type II SIF cells: they displayed immunohistochemically detectable phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT), synthesized and stored epinephrine, and contained large granular vesicles (100 to 300 nm). When SCG cells were grown in 10(-8) M hormone, many fewer SIF cells developed and a higher percentage of these lacked PNMT immunoreactivity, had neurites, and contained vesicles of smaller mean diameter (70 to 130 nm), similar to those of type I SIF cells in vivo. In the presence of conditioned medium (medium conditioned by non- neuronal cells) as well as glucocorticoid, virtually all of the cells morphologically resembled type I SIF cells. In the absence of glucocorticoid, no SIF cells were ever observed after 3 weeks in culture. By following the development of CA histofluorescence and SIF cell ultrastructure in the cultures over time, we demonstrated that SIF cells were not present in large numbers in these cultures immediately after plating, but were induced from an apparently undifferentiated precursor by the hormonal environment, whereas most of the principal neurons died

StruML: An XML based file format for the mark-up of simple sheet music

This project concerns the creation of an electronic music book based upon the eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML 1.0). It begins with a brief overview of the literature on the subject of music mark-up, and XML's relation to previous efforts in this area. There is a sizeable history of research in the electronic representation of music. This literature review is not comprehensive on all aspects of the subject. Rather it is concentrated upon the textual representation of electronically stored music, and how XML became the preferred file format. The project then demonstrates the steps taken by the author to create an XML file format that could be validated against a DTD or XML Schema, and an acceptable XSLT Stylesheet to display the song. The project will then close with a summary of possible directions for future development/research