Impact of Climate Change

Mid-Atlantic Region

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

MID-ATLANTIC REGION

MID-ATLANTIC REGION

AREAS OF IMPACT

HEALTH

SOCIETY

INTERNATIONAL

TRANSPORTATIONFORESTS

ENERGY

COASTSECOSYSTEM

AGRICULTUREWATER

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL

RISE

COASTSTwo considerations: • Rate at which the

sea level rises worldwide

• Rate at which the land rises or subsides at particular coastal locations

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL

RISE

COASTSTwo considerations: • Rate at which the

sea level rises worldwide

• Rate at which the land rises or subsides at particular coastal locations

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL

RISE

COASTSTwo considerations: • Rate at which the

sea level rises worldwide

• Rate at which the land rises or subsides at particular coastal locations

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL

RISE

COASTSTwo considerations: • Rate at which the

sea level rises worldwide

• Rate at which the land rises or subsides at particular coastal locations

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL

RISE

COASTSTwo considerations: • Rate at which the

sea level rises worldwide

• Rate at which the land rises or subsides at particular coastal locations

SEA-LEVEL RISE

Global average in 2010:1.7 millimeters

per year

Rate of Relative Sea-Level RiseStation mm/yr inches/yr

Portland, Me 1.91 ±0.09 0.0764 ±0.0035Boston, Mass 2.65 ±0.10 0.1060 ±0.0039Atlantic City, NJ 3.98 ±0.11 0.1592 ±0.0043Baltimore, MD 3.12 ±0.16 0.1248 ±0.0063Annapolis, MD 3.53 ±0.13 0.1412 ±0.0051Washington,DC 3.13 ±0.21 0.1252 ±0.0083Philadelphia, PA 2.75 ±0.12 0.1100 ±0.0047Portsmouth, VA 3.76 ±0.23 0.1504 ±0.0091Charleston, SC 3.28 ±0.14 0.1312 ±0.0055Miami, FL 2.39 ±0.22 0.0956 ±0.0087Table modified and reprinted by permission from Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region (rates in mm per year)

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISE

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISE

ESTUARIES AND BARRIER

ISLANDS

ESTUARIES

ESTUARIES

ESTUARIES

BARRIER ISLANDS

BARRIER ISLANDS

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEIncreased Coastal Erosion

May 21, 2009 September 5, 2012

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEHigher Storm-Surge Flooding

Storm-Surge Flooding

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEInhibition of Primary Production Processes

Primary Production Processes

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEMore Extensive Coastal Inundation

Coastal Inundation

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEChanges in Surface and Groundwater

Surface Water Quality Groundwater Characteristics

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISELoss of Property and Coastal Habitats

Property Coastal Habitats

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEIncreased Flood Risk and Potential Loss of Life

Flooding Loss of Life

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISELoss of Non-Monetary Cultural Resources and Values

Cultural Resources Cultural Values

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEDecline in Soil and Water Quality

Agriculture Aquaculture

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISELoss of Tourism and Recreation

Tourism Recreation

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISELoss of Transportation Functions

Product Movement Product Storage

IMPACT OF SEA-LEVEL RISE ON MID-ATLANTIC REGION OF

THE UNITED STATES• Scientific evidence for sea-level rising

• Mid-Atlantic land mass is slowing sinking

• Region has 9.7 percent of the nation's population

• Region contributes 10.5 percent of its

CO2 emissions

• Strong motivation to work to mitigate impact

EFFECT ON SEA-LEVEL RISEReferences:

Climate Central

Climate Science

US Environmental Protection Agency

Wikipedia

http://climatecentral.org

http://www.climatescience.gov

http://www.epa.gov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/