Rising sea level has worldwide consequences because of its
potential to alter ecosystems and habitability of coastal
regions. The vulnerability of coastal areas varies with
shoreline physical attributes and the amount of development. Low
lying developed areas in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf
Coast are especially at risk. Damages and economic losses could
be reduced if decision makers understand the potential impacts
of sea level rise and use this information for planning. The
outcome of this research will be the development of tools useful
for coastal managers to mitigate regional ecological impacts of
sea level rise. For more information contact
Carol.Auer@noaa.gov.