Santa Barbara coastal system with increasing sea level rise

Conceptual diagram of the tipping points in the Santa Barbara coastal system with increasing sea level rise. 

A) Present day: coastal habitats and infrastructure vulnerable.

B) 0.5 meter sea level rise (SLR): sandy beach ecosystems squeezed by SLR and urban infrastructure, tidal marsh habitats degrading.

C) 1 meter SLR: sandy beach ecosystems and salt marsh habitats almost completely eliminated, daily tidal flooding impacts urban environments.

D) 2 meter SLR: Habitats lost, and urban environment highly susceptible to daily and periodic storm impacts.