Many of us have some information from the scientific community about the changes caused by global warming. Growing up in North Carolina, one can see the changes of sea level rise over a 10-20 year period quite easily. North Carolina is home to some of the most unique and fragile land formations in the coastal area, the Outerbanks.
About the study:
After being identified as one of the three states most vulnerable to sea-level rise by NOAA, the state of North Carolina has been allocated $5,000,000 in funding to perform a risk assessment and mitigation strategy demonstration on the potential of sea level rise and the impacts directly linked to climate changes.
In this study, a scenario of potential sea level rise will be developed using the demographic conditions of North Carolina; this will take into consideration four different time slices (near term (2025), medium term (2050), long term (2075)). The flooding aspects to be evaluated are linked to sea level rise and its increasing frequency and/or the intensity of coastal flooding and erosion.
This study will stretch from 2009 to the end of 2011, with a study scope concentrating on three aspects: Sources (climate or weather events), Pathways (flood control structures, coastal landforms) and Receptors. Specific receptor systems to be assessed are Aquaculture and fisheries, Environment and Ecology, Agriculture, Coastal Structures, Transportation infrastructure and Societal systems.
This work is a collaboration of key stakeholders, i.e. state and federal agencies, universities, research institutes, contractors and so on. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been advised to use the results of this study to assess the implications of climate change and to disseminate the findings to other states.
Full study found at: NC Sea Level Rise
(Summary by Veronique Carola of Dr. Rolph Poyet's website)
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