Heavy winter seas batter Acadia National Park's coastline

Heavy winter seas batter Acadia National Park's coastline. Atlantic hurricane and winter storm activity have increased since the 1980s, and questions remain as to whether this pattern will strengthen. One scenario for Acadia, “Bigger Boat”, projects increased storminess in the form of tropical and extratropical cyclones and nor’easters, with the potential to cause substantial flooding. However, even if this scenario does not unfold, with the rate at which seas are rising storm surge will inevitably be able to reach further inland than ever before. Alex Bryan, a climatologist with the DOI Northeast Climate Science Center (managed by USGS) is implementing scenario planning techniques to help Acadia National Park identify potential future climate conditions, enabling managers to start planning for how to best protect the park's resources now.