Coastal landscape response to sea-level change for the northeastern United States

This data release presents an update to the Coastal Response Likelihood (CRL) model (Lentz and others 2015); a spatially explicit, probabilistic model that evaluates coastal response for the Northeastern U.S. under various sea-level scenarios. The model considers the variable nature of the coast and provides outputs at spatial and temporal scales suitable for decision support. Updated model results provide higher spatial resolution predictions (from 30 meters (m) to 10 m) of adjusted land elevation ranges (AE) with respect to projected relative sea-level scenarios, a likelihood estimate of this outcome (PAE), and a probability of coastal response (CR), characterized as either static (inundated) or dynamic (maintaining or changing state). The predictions span the coastal zone vertically from 10 m below to 10 m above mean high water (MHW). Results are produced at a horizontal resolution of 10 meters for four decades (2030, 2050, 2080 and 2100) and two possible sea-level change scenarios (Intermediate Low (IL), Intermediate High (IH)) as defined by Sweet and others (2022). Adjusted elevations and their respective probabilities are generated using regional geospatial datasets of relative sea-level scenarios and current elevation data. Coastal response outcomes are determined by combining adjusted elevation outputs with land cover data and expert judgment (Lentz and others 2015) to assess whether an area is likely to maintain its existing land class, or transition to a new one (dynamic), or become submerged (static). The intended users of these data include scientific researchers, coastal planners, and natural resource managers.
 
Lentz, E.E., Stippa, S.R., Thieler, E.R., Plant, N.G., Gesch, D.B., and Horton, R.M., 2015, Evaluating coastal landscape response to sea-level rise in the northeastern United States—Approach and methods (ver. 2.0, December 2015): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1252, 26 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141252.

Sweet, W.V., Hamlington, B.D., Kopp, R.E., Weaver, C.P., Barnard, P.L., Bekaert, D., Brooks, W., Craghan, M., Dusek, G., Frederikse, T., Garner, G.,  Genz, A.S., Krasting, J.P., Larour, E., Marcy, D., Marra, J.J., Obeysekera, J., Osler, M., Pendleton, M., Roman, D., Schmied, L., Veatch, W., White, K.D., and Zuzak, C., 2022, Global and regional sea level rise scenarios for the United States—Updated mean projections and extreme water level probabilities along U.S. coastlines: NOAA Technical Report NOS 01, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 111 pp. https://earth.gov/sealevel/us/internal_resources/756/noaa-nos-techrpt01…;