Download Slide 1

Session 10:
Sea Level Rise
This session will
introduce the basic
natural processes
and potential impacts
of the natural hazard
of sea level rise.
(Source: UN Atlas of the Oceans)
Slide 10. 1, Lecture Outline
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Introduction: Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Zone
Coastal Hazards can be defined as natural hazards that occur within the
coastal zone. The hazards discussed in Sessions 6 through 10 can
happen in the coastal zone, but occur in other locations as well.
The following natural hazard will be discussed in this session:
• Sea level rise
(Source: www.globalchange.umich.edu/)
Slide 10. 2, Introduction
(Source: NASA)
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
What is Sea Level Rise?
Sea Level Rise is defined as a mean rise in sea level
Slide 10. 3, Sea Level Rise Definition
(Source:http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~tk
/climate_dynamics/climate_impact_w
ebpage.html)
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Climate Change in Geologic Time
Change in
Plant
Distributions
Over Time
Geologic Time
Divisions
(Source: NASA)
Pangaea
(Source:http://users.
rcn.com/jkimball.ma.
ultranet/BiologyPage
Slide 10. 4, Geologic Time
s/G/GeoEras.html )
(Source:
http://www.scotese.com/climate.htm )
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Climate Change in the Past 1,000 Years
Short term climate
changes could be due to:
• Solar irradiance
• Sun spot activity
• Dust in the atmosphere
• Human induced changes
(Source:http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/land/global/climchng.html )
In the past 1,000 years, there has
been significant variation in the
Earth’s temperature, with
corresponding climate responses
Slide 10. 5, Past 1,000 Years
(Source: http://doctorgrooveband.com/sun-spots.gif)
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Global Warming Processes
The Greenhouse Effect is a process that makes the Earth inhabitable
• This process can
lead to an increase in
global temperature
when greenhouse
gases are added to
the atmosphere
• An increase in global
temperature can result
in sea level rise due to
the melting of glaciers
(Source:http://library.thinkq
uest.org/C005137F/autom
obile_traffic_pollution.jpg)
(Source:http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules
/climate/GCclimate1.html)
(Source: NASA)
Slide 10. 6, Global Warming Processes
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Sea Level Rise Predictions
Sea level rise predictions are complex and are based on multiple scenarios of
global temperature change and greenhouse gas emission
(Source: http://www.ghgonline.org/predictions.htm)
Slide 10. 7, Predictions
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Uncertainties of Predictions
There are many global processes to account for in predicting climate change,
plus a large amount of “noise” in the yearly temperature readings. This makes
predictions based on short term data very difficult to accomplish with accuracy.
(Source: USGS)
(Source:http://www.ngo.grida.no/soes
a/nsoer/Graphics/national/fig4_9.gif)
(Source:http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/cur
ric/land/global/greenhou.html)
Slide 10. 8, Uncertainties
(Source:www.globalchange.si.edu/
images/essay_rsl.gif)
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Current Evidence
(Source: http://vathena.arc.nasa.gov/curric/land/global/greenhou.html)
Through the variability emerge trends that are more convincing
Slide 10. 9, Evidence
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Potential Impacts on the Natural Environment
(Source:
USGS)
(Source:
http://www.usgcrp.gov/)
Loss of habitat such as coral reefs and wetlands
may have significant impacts in the coastal zone
Slide 10. 10, Natural Impacts
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Potential Impacts on Humans and the Built Environment
(Source:
http://www.us
gcrp.gov/)
As coastal populations increase,
vulnerability of those populations
to sea level rise increases as well.
7 million people live below the 1
meter contour line in Bangladesh.
Slide 10. 11, Human Impacts
(Source: www.jri.org.uk/brief/
climatechange.htm)
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course
Class Discussion Questions
1.
Where do you stand on global warming? What are your biggest concerns,
(if any)?
2.
What are the mitigation techniques mentioned in the Titus article?
•
Which do you think are the best options?
•
What are some of the pros and cons associated with each method
from environmental, economic, and social viewpoints?
3.
What is your impression of the Climate Stewardship Act? Do you think that
it will pass? Why or why not?
4.
What do you think about using the best available data/science to
make policy decisions?
5.
How are the uncertainties about sea level rise similar to those with
hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes? How are they different?
6. How are sea level rise and global warming tied to the frequency and
intensity of other hazards at the coast?
Slide 10. 12, Class Discussion
Session 10: Sea Level Rise
Coastal Hazards Management Course