Media coverage of threat to atoll islands from rising seas and wave-driven flooding

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  June 27, 2022

  The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls

  Providing basic understanding and specific information on storm-wave inundation of atoll islands that house Department of Defense installations, and assessing the resulting impact of sea-level rise and storm-wave inundation on infrastructure and freshwater availability under a variety of sea-level rise and climatic scenarios.

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  Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

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  June 27, 2022

  The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls

  Providing basic understanding and specific information on storm-wave inundation of atoll islands that house Department of Defense installations, and assessing the resulting impact of sea-level rise and storm-wave inundation on infrastructure and freshwater availability under a variety of sea-level rise and climatic scenarios.

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  June 27, 2022

  Coral Reef Project: Kwajalein Island

  The USGS is working to provide a better understanding of how spatially-varying atoll morphology and coral cover interact with changes in water level to affect the propagation of waves of different heights and wavelengths across atoll reefs.

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

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  June 27, 2022

  Coral Reef Project: Kwajalein Island

  The USGS is working to provide a better understanding of how spatially-varying atoll morphology and coral cover interact with changes in water level to affect the propagation of waves of different heights and wavelengths across atoll reefs.

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  June 27, 2022

  Coral Reef Project: Roi-Namur Island

  The USGS is working to provide a better understanding of how spatially-varying atoll morphology and coral cover interact with changes in water level to affect the propagation of waves of different heights and wavelengths across atoll reefs.

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

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  June 27, 2022

  Coral Reef Project: Roi-Namur Island

  The USGS is working to provide a better understanding of how spatially-varying atoll morphology and coral cover interact with changes in water level to affect the propagation of waves of different heights and wavelengths across atoll reefs.

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• Publications
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  April 26, 2018

  Most atolls will be uninhabitable by the mid-21st century because of sea-level rise exacerbating wave-driven flooding

  Sea levels are rising, with the highest rates in the tropics, where thousands of low-lying coral atoll islands are located. Most studies on the resilience of these islands to sea-level rise have projected that they will experience minimal inundation impacts until at least the end of the 21st century. However, these have not taken into account the additional hazard of wave-driven overwash or its im

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  Curt D. Storlazzi, Stephen B. Gingerich, Ap van Dongeren, Olivia Cheriton, Peter W. Swarzenski, Ellen Quataert, Clifford I. Voss, Donald W. Field, Hariharasubramanian Annamalai, Greg A. Piniak, Robert T. McCall

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  September 13, 2017

  Atoll groundwater movement and its response to climatic and sea-level fluctuations

  Groundwater resources of low-lying atoll islands are threatened due to short-term and long-term changes in rainfall, wave climate, and sea level. A better understanding of how these forcings affect the limited groundwater resources was explored on Roi-Namur in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As part of a 16-month study, a rarely recorded island-overwash event occurred and the island’s aquife

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  Ferdinand K. J. Oberle, Peter W. Swarzenski, Curt D. Storlazzi

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  Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  March 1, 2017

  Land-use change and managed aquifer recharge effects on the hydrogeochemistry of two contrasting atoll island aquifers, Roi-Namur Island, Republic of the Marshall Islands

  Freshwater resources on low-lying atoll islands are highly vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise. In addition to rainwater catchment, groundwater in the freshwater lens is a critically important water resource on many atoll islands, especially during drought. Although many atolls have high annual rainfall rates, dense natural vegetation and high evapotranspiration rates can limit rechar

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  Mehrdad Hejazian, Jason J. Gurdak, Peter W. Swarzenski, Kingsley Odigie, Curt D. Storlazzi

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  October 18, 2016

  Identification and classification of very low frequency waves on a coral reef flat

  Very low frequency (VLF, 0.001–0.005 Hz) waves are important drivers of flooding of low-lying coral reef-islands. In particular, VLF wave resonance is known to drive large wave runup and subsequent overwash. Using a 5 month data set of water levels and waves collected along a cross-reef transect on Roi-Namur Island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the observed VLF motions were categorized

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  Matthijs Gawehn, Ap van Dongeran, Arnold van Rooijen, Curt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Ad Reniers

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  May 23, 2016

  Observations of wave transformation over a fringing coral reef and the importance of low-frequency waves and offshore water levels to runup, overwash, and coastal flooding

  Many low-lying tropical islands are susceptible to sea level rise and often subjected to overwash and flooding during large wave events. To quantify wave dynamics and wave-driven water levels on fringing coral reefs, a 5 month deployment of wave gauges and a current meter was conducted across two shore-normal transects on Roi-Namur Island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. These observations

  Authors

  Olivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi, Kurt J. Rosenberger

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  October 5, 2015

  Many atolls may be uninhabitable within decades due to climate change

  Observations show global sea level is rising due to climate change, with the highest rates in the tropical Pacific Ocean where many of the world’s low-lying atolls are located. Sea-level rise is particularly critical for low-lying carbonate reef-lined atoll islands; these islands have limited land and water available for human habitation, water and food sources, and ecosystems that are vulnerable

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  Curt D. Storlazzi, Edwin P.L. Elias, Paul Berkowitz

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  October 5, 2015

  The influence of coral reefs and climate change on wave-driven flooding of tropical coastlines

  A numerical model, XBeach, calibrated and validated on field data collected at Roi-Namur Island on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of Marshall Islands, was used to examine the effects of different coral reef characteristics on potential coastal hazards caused by wave-driven flooding and how these effects may be altered by projected climate change. The results presented herein suggest that coasts f

  Authors

  Ellen Quataert, Curt D. Storlazzi, Arnold van Rooijen, Ap van Dongeren, Olivia Cheriton

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  October 1, 2014

  The effectiveness of coral reefs for coastal hazard risk reduction and adaptation

  The world’s coastal zones are experiencing rapid development and an increase in storms and flooding. These hazards put coastal communities at heightened risk, which may increase with habitat loss. Here we analyse globally the role and cost effectiveness of coral reefs in risk reduction. Meta-analyses reveal that coral reefs provide substantial protection against natural hazards by reducing wave en

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  Filippo Ferrario, Michael W. Beck, Curt D. Storlazzi, Fiorenza Micheli, Christine C. Shepard, Laura Airoldi

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  January 1, 2011

  Numerical modeling of the impact of sea-level rise on fringing coral reef hydrodynamics and sediment transport

  Most climate projections suggest that sea level may rise on the order of 0.5-1.0 m by 2100; it is not clear, however, how fluid flow and sediment dynamics on exposed fringing reefs might change in response to this rapid sea-level rise. Coupled hydrodynamic and sediment-transport numerical modeling is consistent with recent published results that suggest that an increase in water depth on the order

  Authors

  C. D. Storlazzi, E. Elias, M.E. Field, M.K. Presto

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  January 1, 2011

  Rising sea level may cause decline of fringing coral reefs

  Coral reefs are major marine ecosystems and critical resources for marine diversity and fisheries. These ecosystems are widely recognized to be at risk from a number of stressors, and added to those in the past several decades is climate change due to anthropogenically driven increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Most threatening to most coral reefs are elevated sea surface

  Authors

  Michael E. Field, Andrea S. Ogston, Curt D. Storlazzi

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  Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

  September 19, 2009

  Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems

  Coral ecosystems and their natural capital are at risk. Greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, and harmful land-use practices are damaging our coral reefs. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that the threats are serious, and if they are left unchecked, the ecological and social consequences will be significant and widespread. Although the primary stressors to coral ecosystems are known, sc

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  Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
• News
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  Many Low-Lying Atoll Islands Will Be Uninhabitable by Mid-21st Century

  April 25, 2018

  Many Low-Lying Atoll Islands Will Be Uninhabitable by Mid-21st Century

  Sea-level rise and wave-driven flooding will negatively impact freshwater resources on many low-lying atoll islands in such a way that many could be...

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  Pacific Missile Tracking Site Could Be Unusable in 20 Years Due to Climate Change

  February 20, 2018

  Pacific Missile Tracking Site Could Be Unusable in 20 Years Due to Climate Change

  Living and working on the Pacific islands hosting a key missile tracking site soon could be almost impossible due to the impacts of climate change.

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  Many Atolls May be Uninhabitable Within Decades Due to Climate Change

  October 1, 2015

  Many Atolls May be Uninhabitable Within Decades Due to Climate Change

  SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A new study shows that the combined effect of storm-induced wave-driven flooding and sea level rise on island atolls may be more...

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  Climate Change Reduces Coral Reefs’ Ability to Protect Coasts

  July 22, 2015

  Climate Change Reduces Coral Reefs’ Ability to Protect Coasts

  SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Coral reefs, under pressure from climate change and direct human activity, may have a reduced ability to protect tropical islands...

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