Cutting Edge Research

Coastal Impact Study:
Nation Under Siege

Visual Imaging

It can be difficult to visualize and grasp the implications of sea level rise. This is due in part to the way mapping is presented, i.e. as a two-dimensional image. Two-dimensional maps provide little, if any, visceral connection for the viewer. To overcome this disconnect, we chose to present our data in a familiar format, that of looking out an airplane window at a city or town when making the approach for landing. By illustrating sea level rise mapping as an aerial, three-dimensional snapshot of a city or town, the images take on a sense of familiarity and immediacy, and by connection, gives one a more realistic understanding of the physical impacts of sea level rise.

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A total of 32 coastal cities and towns were studied: Atlantic City, NJ, Boston, MA, Brigantine, NJ, Cape Coral, FL, Coronado, CA, Cypress Lake, FL, East Boston, MA, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Foster City, CA, Freeport, TX, Galveston, TX, Hampton, VA, Hollywood, FL, Honolulu, HI, Lavalette/Dover Beaches, NJ, Marina Del Ray/Santa Monica, CA, Miami, FL, Miami Beach, FL, Naples/East Naples, FL, Newport Beach, CA, New Orleans, LA, New York City, NY, Oakland Airport, CA, Point Pleasant, NJ, Point Shirley, Winthrop, MA, Port Aransas, TX, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Savannah, GA, Seattle, WA and Silverton Area, NJ.

 

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Foreword
Introduction
Sea Level Rise
Visual Imaging
One Meter of Sea Level Rise... and Rising
A Lesson Learned?
Current Trends
Timeline
Fossil Fuels and Climate Change
The Power of Coal
Silver Bullet: Moratorium on Coal
Replacing Coal
The 2030 Challenge
Been There, Done That
Revisiting Katrina
Conclusions
Appendix

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