The continued devastation from recent hurricanes and tropical storms demonstrates the vulnerability of coastal communities to coastal-change hazards. Changes in sea level and storm-wave intensity are changing the areas that are prone to erosion and storm-related flooding. The Hazards Vulnerability Team has worked with USGS coastal researchers and partners to improve our understanding of community vulnerability to coastal-storm hazards, including the influence of climate change on these physical processes.
How will climate change influence community vulnerability to coastal-erosion hazards in the Pacific Northwest?
In collaboration with Oregon State University, we examined changes in societal vulnerability to coastal erosion hazards along the Pacific Northwest coast that are themselves changing due to climate change. We developed a methodology for incorporating climate change into coastal erosion hazard zones that reflect variability in storm wave intensity, sea level rise, and the occurrence of El Nino events. We applied this new approach to coastal communities in Tillamook County, Oregon.
How could the intersection of sea level rise, hurricane storm-surge hazards, and increasing urbanization affect how communities are vulnerable to future hurricanes?
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, we examined these issues in Sarasota County, Florida. Research included a geospatial analysis of populations, businesses, and future land uses relative to hurricane-related storm surge hazard zones that incorporate potential sea level rise scenarios. We then used these results in a community workshop in Sarasota to better understand stakeholder perspectives on land-use strategies for adapting to climate-change-enhanced coastal hazards.
How could coastal-change hazards affect community water systems, both today and in the future?
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, we developed a methodology for collecting and integrating stakeholder perspectives of how community water systems may be affected by climate change, such as inundation related to sea level rise.
Below are FAQs about Climate Change.
What are the long-term effects of climate change?
Scientists have predicted that long-term effects of climate change will include a decrease in sea ice and an increase in permafrost thawing, an increase in heat waves and heavy precipitation, and decreased water resources in semi-arid regions. Below are some of the regional impacts of global change forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: North America: Decreasing snowpack in the...
What is the difference between weather and climate change?
Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate change refers to long-term changes.
How can climate change affect natural disasters?
With increasing global surface temperatures the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations...
What are some of the signs of climate change?
• Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gases trapping more heat in the atmosphere. • Droughts are becoming longer and more extreme around the world. • Tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water temperatures. • As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and polar areas and the snow melts faster. • Overall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate...
The continued devastation from recent hurricanes and tropical storms demonstrates the vulnerability of coastal communities to coastal-change hazards. Changes in sea level and storm-wave intensity are changing the areas that are prone to erosion and storm-related flooding. The Hazards Vulnerability Team has worked with USGS coastal researchers and partners to improve our understanding of community vulnerability to coastal-storm hazards, including the influence of climate change on these physical processes.
How will climate change influence community vulnerability to coastal-erosion hazards in the Pacific Northwest?
In collaboration with Oregon State University, we examined changes in societal vulnerability to coastal erosion hazards along the Pacific Northwest coast that are themselves changing due to climate change. We developed a methodology for incorporating climate change into coastal erosion hazard zones that reflect variability in storm wave intensity, sea level rise, and the occurrence of El Nino events. We applied this new approach to coastal communities in Tillamook County, Oregon.
How could the intersection of sea level rise, hurricane storm-surge hazards, and increasing urbanization affect how communities are vulnerable to future hurricanes?
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, we examined these issues in Sarasota County, Florida. Research included a geospatial analysis of populations, businesses, and future land uses relative to hurricane-related storm surge hazard zones that incorporate potential sea level rise scenarios. We then used these results in a community workshop in Sarasota to better understand stakeholder perspectives on land-use strategies for adapting to climate-change-enhanced coastal hazards.
How could coastal-change hazards affect community water systems, both today and in the future?
In collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, we developed a methodology for collecting and integrating stakeholder perspectives of how community water systems may be affected by climate change, such as inundation related to sea level rise.
Below are FAQs about Climate Change.
What are the long-term effects of climate change?
Scientists have predicted that long-term effects of climate change will include a decrease in sea ice and an increase in permafrost thawing, an increase in heat waves and heavy precipitation, and decreased water resources in semi-arid regions. Below are some of the regional impacts of global change forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: North America: Decreasing snowpack in the...
What is the difference between weather and climate change?
Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate change refers to long-term changes.
How can climate change affect natural disasters?
With increasing global surface temperatures the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations...
What are some of the signs of climate change?
• Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gases trapping more heat in the atmosphere. • Droughts are becoming longer and more extreme around the world. • Tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water temperatures. • As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and polar areas and the snow melts faster. • Overall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate...