Introduction
Climate change poses a major threat to the integrity and longevity of backup archives and data centers around the world. As global temperatures rise, these facilities face increased risks from flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events. At the same time, higher energy demands for cooling place strain on power grids, while environmental shifts can accelerate deterioration of media. This article will examine the key climate threats to archives and data centers and discuss potential strategies to mitigate the risks.
Flooding
Rising sea levels
One of the most direct impacts of climate change is rising sea levels due to melting glaciers and thermal expansion of ocean water. This poses a grave risk for facilities located near coastlines. Even just a few inches of sea level rise can overwhelm outdated flood prevention infrastructure. As an example, during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, storage facilities and data centers in New York and New Jersey sustained major flood damage despite being located outside official flood zones.
Increased precipitation
Climate change also increases the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events. Flooding from rainfall now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all declared federal disasters in the United States. Historic precipitation overwhelmed drainage systems and led to flooding at underground data centers in 2021 in China. Above-ground facilities with poor sealing or drainage are also vulnerable.
Mitigation strategies
To mitigate flood risks, archives and data centers should prioritize relocating to higher elevations when possible. For existing facilities in floodplains, options include flood-proofing buildings, improving drainage systems, constructing berms and levees, or installing submersible equipment. Tape and film media may need to be relocated offsite to drier storage.
Wildfires
Rising global temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are increasing the incidence and severity of wildfires worldwide. Fires can directly threaten archive buildings, while smoke particles and chemical residues from fire retardants can irreparably damage collection materials if not properly filtered out of ventilation systems. For example, in 2020, wildfires resulted in temporary closures at National Archives facilities in California, Colorado, and Washington. Any facility located near forests or grasslands is at higher risk.
Mitigation strategies
Key steps to reduce wildfire risks include replacing exterior flammable materials with fire-resistant alternatives, installing HEPA air filters, and creating defensible space around buildings by clearing out brush and trees. Having an emergency plan to quickly evacuate or shelter-in-place is critical. Offsite duplication of irreplaceable media provides another layer of protection.
Power grid disruption
Increasing electricity demand
As global temperatures rise, data centers and archives require more power for cooling systems to maintain the constant temperatures and humidity levels needed to avoid media deterioration. The increased electricity demand strains energy infrastructure, especially on hot days when the grid already faces peak loads for residential air conditioning. This leads to an elevated risk of grid failures and blackouts.
Renewable energy intermittency
Adding renewable energy sources like solar and wind helps reduce fossil fuel dependence but also introduces more variability into electricity supply. Data centers with onsite renewables may need to scale up battery storage to keep backup power seamlessly online during periods of intermittency.
Mitigation strategies
Improving efficiency of HVAC and servers can help curb energy consumption growth. Data centers should ensure redundant power supplies, with onsite generators and fuel reserves that offer at least 72 hours of uptime. Critical computing loads should be protected with uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems.
Media deterioration
Storage media like magnetic tape, film, and optical discs all face accelerated decay from climate change impacts. Higher temperatures and humidity hasten hydrolysis and oxidation reactions. Storage facilities without climate controls are most vulnerable. For example, nitrate film vaults have caught fire when ventilation systems failed during heat waves. Climate-related disasters can also irreparably damage media through water exposure or smoke damage.
Mitigation strategies
Maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels via HVAC systems is critical to prolonging media life. Air filtration protects from particulate contaminants. Fire suppression systems add security. Redundantly backing up irreplaceable archives offline and offsite hedge against potential media losses. Migration to more stable and durable formats can also be considered.
Conclusion
Climate change multiplies the risks to the safety and integrity of indispensable backup archives and data centers. However, with prudent siting decisions, infrastructure upgrades, emergency planning, and redundant safeguards, these facilities can maintain reliable operations in the face of increasing climate disruptions. The stakes are high, as these indispensable digital repositories preserve humanity’s cultural memory and accumulated knowledge for future generations.
