СLIMATE CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH RISING OCEAN LEVELS - A THREAT TO COASTAL AREAS
СLIMATE CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH RISING OCEAN LEVELS - A THREAT TO COASTAL AREAS

Summary/Abstract: Even if we were to stop emitting green house gasses this moment, we have already committed to 2m of sea level rise in the future due to the lag of sea level rise response to warming. This means that each year we continue to emit mass amounts of greenhouse gasses, that inevitable number will rise, the average level of the ocean is increasing at an unprecedented rate due to anthropogenic forcing. There are two major uncertainties associated with rise, one is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions (RCPs), and another is the likelihood of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets melting. Though scientists are able to make predictions through simulation, it is unknown how fast they will break apart (Velicogna 2018).As communities are threatened by climate change, so are the baylands and their wildlife. Although a few feet of sea level rise may not sound threatening, one meter of rise can affect ecosystems hundreds of meters inland depending on surface slope. Reduced sediment, warmer temperatures, and storm surge will have a detrimental effect on habitat. Restoration practices can be used to increase the Bay's vitality, but rebuilding or protecting development could potentially cost billions of dollars (Velicogna 2018). Many stakeholders are discouraged by short term upfront cost for investment in protection, rather than focusing on long term benefit and avoiding damage expenditure. When choosing a course of action there will be tradeoffs between competing uses, near and long term benefits, and which ecosystems will be protected. Successful implementation will be made possible through adaptive management, the process of learning by doing and utilizing the results to improve tactics. An action strategy for the Bay in the long term will need to focus more on restoring transition zones and realigning levees as well as public outreach (Sea Level Rise Guide, 2018).

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