Feb 19 2009

Climate Change and the Coast, 2009: Recent Studies

Published by lwallendorf at 5:35 pm under Climate Change, Sea Level Rise

 On January 16, 2009,  Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region -Atlantic coast of the United States  was published.  This report is one of 21 products to be developed for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) to assist policy makers in the United States to attempting to formulate effective strategies for preventing, mitigating, and adapting to the effects of global change.

Figure ES.1 Potential Mid-atlantic coastal landform response

Figure ES.1 Potential Mid-Atlantic coastal landform response to three sea level rise scenarios

Most coastal areas are currently experiencing erosion, which is expected to increase with future sea-level rise. In addition to undergoing erosion, coastal segments denoted with a “T” may also cross a threshold where rapid barrier island migration or segmentation will occur.  (page 24, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States)

 

On January 16, 2009, the USGS released a report showing that the arctic ice sheet and glaciers are melting at faster than historical rates.  (News Release & Summary, Report, podcast)  On February 17, 2009 the USGS released a report on the increased in coastal erosion rates on the Alaskan shoreline on the Beaufort Sea. (News Release & Summary, AGU paper).  For a nice view of the Arctic Ocean, see CCSP’s map.

 On February 17, 2009, Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a New York City Panel on Climate Change Report that predicts higher temperatures and rising sea levels for New York City.  (News Release & Summary, Report).

One Response to “Climate Change and the Coast, 2009: Recent Studies”

  1. # Brad McCreaon 23 Apr 2009 at 1:00 am

    To further advance the discussion regarding sea level rise adaptation strategies, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), a state agency that was created by the California Legislature in 1965, has launched its Rising Tides ideas competition.

    Rising Tides is an international competition for ideas responding to sea level rise in San Francisco Bay and beyond. Submissions are due in June 2009.

    For more information, visit http://www.risingtidescompetition.com.

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