High-Resolution Coastal Elevation Data: The Key to Planning for Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise

Abstract. Using new high accuracy Light Detection and Ranging elevation data we generate coastal flooding maps for Norway. Thus far, we have mapped ~ 80 % of the coast, for which we currently have data of sufficient accuracy to perform our analysis. Although Norway is generally at low risk from sea-level rise largely owing to its steep topography, the maps presented here show that on local scales, many parts of the coast are potentially vulnerable to flooding. There is a considerable amount of infrastructure at risk along the relatively long and complicated coastline. Nationwide we identify a total area of 400 km2, 105,000 buildings, and 510 km of roads that are at risk of flooding from a 200 year storm-surge event at present. These numbers will increase to 610 km2, 137,000, and 1340 km with projected sea-level rise to 2090 (95th percentile of RCP8.5 as recommended in planning). We find that some of our results are likely biased high owing to erroneous mapping (at least for lower water levels close to the tidal datum which delineates the coastline). A comparison of control points from different terrain types indicates that the elevation model has a root mean square error of 0.26 m and is the largest source of uncertainty in our mapping method. The coastal flooding maps and associated statistics are freely available, and alongside the development of coastal climate services, will help communicate the risks of sea-level rise and storm surge to stakeholders. This will in turn aid coastal management and climate adaption work in Norway.

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FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF STORM SURGE DISASTER AND SEA LEVEL RISE DUE TO TYPHOON 9918 HITTING SHIRANUI TOWN, MATSUAI DISTRICT

PROCEEDINGS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IN THE OCEAN ◽

10.2208/prooe.16.393 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

pp. 393-398

Author(s):

Hideaki OKUZONO ◽

Noriko TAKAHASHI

Keyword(s):

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Field Observations ◽

Storm Surge Disaster ◽

And Sea Level

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Assessment of Damage and Adaptation Strategies for Structures and Infrastructure from Storm Surge and Sea Level Rise for a Coastal Community in Rhode Island, United States

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse4040067 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 67 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christopher Small ◽

Tyler Blanpied ◽

Alicia Kauffman ◽

Conor O’Neil ◽

Nicholas Proulx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Rhode Island ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Coastal Community ◽

And Sea Level

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Joint effects of storm surge and sea-level rise on US Coasts: new economic estimates of impacts, adaptation, and benefits of mitigation policy

Climatic Change ◽

10.1007/s10584-014-1304-z ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (1-2) ◽

pp. 337-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

James E. Neumann ◽

Kerry Emanuel ◽

Sai Ravela ◽

Lindsay Ludwig ◽

Paul Kirshen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Mitigation Policy ◽

Joint Effects ◽

And Sea Level

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Vulnerability of Hampton Roads, Virginia to Storm-Surge Flooding and Sea-Level Rise

Natural Hazards ◽

10.1007/s11069-006-0004-z ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 43-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 126

Author(s):

Lisa R. Kleinosky ◽

Brent Yarnal ◽

Ann Fisher

Keyword(s):

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Hampton Roads ◽

Surge Flooding ◽

And Sea Level

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Investigation of Combined Storm Surge Inundation and Sea Level Rise to the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier

Ports 2016 ◽

10.1061/9780784479919.100 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Danielle Goudreau

Keyword(s):

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

And Sea Level

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Salt marsh resilience to sea-level rise and increased storm intensity

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-1294 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natascia Pannozzo ◽

Nicoletta Leonardi ◽

Iacopo Carnacina ◽

Rachel Smedley

Keyword(s):

Salt Marsh ◽

Sea Level Rise ◽

Sea Level ◽

Storm Surge ◽

Salt Marshes ◽

Sediment Budget ◽

Geophysical Research ◽

Storm Intensity ◽

Combined Impact ◽

And Sea Level

Salt marshes are widely recognised as ecosystems with high economic and environmental value. However, it is still unclear how salt marshes will respond to the combined impact of future sea-level rise and possible increases in storm intensity (Schuerch et al. 2013). This study investigates marsh resilience under the combined impact of various storm surge and sea-level scenarios by using a sediment budget approach. The current paradigm is that a positive sediment budget supports the accretion of salt marshes and, therefore, its survival, while a negative sediment budget causes marsh degradation (Ganju et al. 2015). The Ribble Estuary, North-West England, was used as test case, and the hydrodynamic model Delft3D was used to simulate the response of the salt marsh system to the above scenarios. We conclude that the resilience of salt marshes and estuarine systems is enhanced under the effect of storm surges, as they promote flood dominance and trigger a net import of sediment.&#160; Conversely, sea-level rise threatens marsh stability, by promoting ebb dominance and triggering a net export of sediment. Ultimately, when storm surge and sea-level scenarios are combined, results show that storms with the highest intensities have the potential to counteract the negative impact of sea-level rise by masking its effects on the sediment budget.AcknowledgementsWe acknowledge the support of the School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool.ReferencesGanju, N.K., Kirwan, M.L., Dickhudt, P.J., Guntenspergen, G.R., Cahoon, D.R. and Kroeger, K.D. 2015. &#8220;Sediment transport-based metrics of wetland stability&#8221;. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(19), 7992-8000.Schuerch, M., Vafeidis, A., Slawig, T. and Temmerman, S. 2013. &#8220;Modeling the influence of changing storm patterns on the ability of a salt marsh to keep pace with sea level rise&#8221;.&#160;Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 118(1),&#160;84-96.

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