Vulnerability of the US to future sea level rise

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5875484

Gornitz, V ^[1]; White, T W; Cushman, R M ^[2]

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1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, New York, NY (USA). Goddard Inst. for Space Studies
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

The differential vulnerability of the conterminous United States to future sea level rise from greenhouse climate warming is assessed, using a coastal hazards data base. This data contains information on seven variables relating to inundation and erosion risks. High risk shorelines are characterized by low relief, erodible substrate, subsidence, shoreline retreat, and high wave/tide energies. Very high risk shorelines on the Atlantic Coast (Coastal Vulnerability Index {ge}33.0) include the outer coast of the Delmarva Peninsula, northern Cape Hatteras, and segments of New Jersey, Georgia and South Carolina. Louisiana and sections of Texas are potentially the most vulnerable, due to anomalously high relative sea level rise and erosion, coupled with low elevation and mobile sediments. Although the Pacific Coast is generally the least vulnerable, because of its rugged relief and erosion-resistant substrate, the high geographic variability leads to several exceptions, such as the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta area, the barrier beaches of Oregon and Washington, and parts of the Puget Sound Lowlands. 31 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5875484
• Report Number(s): CONF-910780-1; ON: DE91007853
• Resource Relation: Conference: 7. symposium on coastal and ocean management, Long Beach, CA (USA), 8-12 Jul 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COASTAL REGIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
FLOODS
RISK ASSESSMENT
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
COMPILED DATA
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
EAST COAST
EROSION
GULF COAST
SEA LEVEL
USA
WEST COAST
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DISASTERS
INFORMATION
LEVELS
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SIMULATION
VARIATIONS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540310 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)
540210 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)