Investigating Sea Level Trends in the Coastal U.S.

Rising atmospheric temperatures have thrown the Earth’s climate system out of balance.  As a result we are seeing changes in weather and climate.  Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, increased flooding, prolong droughts, intense rainfall, more intense storms, and severe heat waves.

Earth’s oceans and glaciers have experienced big changes as well.  Oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and our environment.

Throughout the semester you have learned many of the geologic and physical processes affecting coastlines.  According to the National Coastal Population Report, between 1970 and 2010, coastal shoreline counties added 125 people per square mile of coastal areas.  With the trend in rising sea levels, there will be both social and economic issues in coastal communities.

This assignment allows students to conduct a comparison study of the East, West, and Gulf coastal areas of the U.S., identify economic impacts, and create a data driven argument for mitigation planning.

Resources:

NOAA’s website tides and currents/sea level trends:

https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends.html

Sea level rise and flooding effects (View the tutorial before beginning to collect data)

http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/

Environmental Resilience Institute for mitigation strategies:

https://eri.iu.edu/erit/strategies/sea-level-rise.html

Directions (complete each section listed below):

Introduction to the problem:

• Describe the problem of global sea level rise. Explain the cause of sea level rise and briefly outline the consequences to society.  Be sure to cite your source(s).

Investigating the problem: Sea level trends for the East, West, and Gulf coast.

• Collection of data
  • Using NOAA’s website observe sea level trends of the East, West, and Gulf coasts.
  • Chose FIVE locations from each coast and report: relative trend (mm/year), time frame of data (years), change in 100 year equivalent (feet). Organize the data in a table.
  • Be sure to introduce the table in this section. Table cannot stand alone.
  • Write an overall summary of the data collected for the three coastal areas.

Data interpretation:

• Draw from the body of scientific knowledge to interpret your data:
  • Use your knowledge of plate tectonics, continental margins, crustal isostatic equilibrium and human activities along the coast to describe and explain the differences in sea level trends among the coastal areas of the U.S.

Implications of changing sea levels on the local level:

• Making the case:
  • Use the sea level rise and flooding effect website provided to address flooding potential in your neighborhood. Be sure to view the tutorial to understand what information you can obtain from the website.  Enter your zip code to research the effects of various flood levels in your neighborhood.
  • Construct a data driven argument for the necessity of mitigation plans for your area. Include economic impacts as part of your argument.

Adapting and mitigating to sea level changes:

• Read about mitigating and adapting to sea level rise. Think about what you saw on the news during past hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma, Maria, Florence, and Michael.  What role will sea level rise play in the street flooding we see during thunderstorms or during higher than high tides?  Describe strategies (at least three) that need to put in place to help the Hampton Roads area adapt to rising seas and recurrent flooding (see the Environmental Resilience Institute for flood mitigation website).

Formatting directions:

• Be sure to type in 12 size font.
• Use the same headings given in the directions to help organize your paper.
• Write in complete sentences and edit your work.
• Cite your resources that you use.

Investigating Sea Level Trends in the Coastal U.S.

APA

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