Wetland Sustainability

Regional Impacts of Climate Change: Four Case Studies in the United States assesses climate vulnerabilities in the Midwest, West, Gulf Coast, and Chesapeake Bay regions. The report provides information about regional impacts and presents a general perspective on challenges decision-makers face in developing workable responses to varied climate impacts. Each study also considers non-climatic factors that are likely to exacerbate communities' vulnerability to climate change.

Coastal Wetlands and Global Climate Change: Gulf Coast Wetland Sustainability in a Changing Climate, one of the regional studies, notes that "degradation of coastal wetlands through land development and water management reduces the capacity of wetlands to provide significant ecosystem services that reduce the risks of living and working in coastal landscapes. For example, extensive coastal wetland landscapes, especially forested ecosystems, can reduce storm surge and wind energy during tropical storms and cyclones, minimizing hurricane damage to life and property."

New Orleans Flood Vulnerability

In November 2001, a report on Sea-Level Rise and Subsidence: Implications for Flooding in New Orleans, Louisiana was presented to the U.S. Geological Survey Subsidence Interest Group during a technical meeting held in Galveston, Texas. Study authors Burkett, Zilkoski, and Hart concluded that "increases in mean sea level, coupled with the current low altitude of the land surface and land-subsidence trends in the region, portend serious losses of life and property in the New Orleans MSA unless flood-control levees and drainage systems are upgraded. The maintenance of barrier islands and wetlands that flank New Orleans to the south, west, and east is another adaptation that will likely minimize the potential loss of life and property due to flooding. The changes in sea level that are predicted to accompany increasing global temperature are statistically and practically significant to those responsible for designing flood-control works and coastal protection strategies for New Orleans, Houston, Amsterdam, and other rapidly subsiding coastal areas."

Hurricanes - Climate Change

Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperature as Hurricane Rita approached the coast
Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperature as Hurricane Rita approached the coast [Image courtesy of NASA]

Scientists are working on climate models to predict the activity and intensity of future hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Higher ocean surface temperatures, the impact of regional ocean patterns, and human activity all play a role in the likely impact of climate change. Yet more information is needed to help better understand the factors influencing Gulf hurricanes.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Climate Change 2007: the Physical Science Basis; Summary for Policymakers, released 2 February 2007, suggests that, "Based on a range of models, it is likely that future tropical cyclones (typhoons and hurricanes) will become more intense, with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation associated with ongoing increases of tropical sea surface temperatures."

The U.S. Global Change Research Program provides additional information on the climate change issues of the Southeast Region, stating that "Sea-level rise and the likely increase in hurricane intensity and associated storm surge will be among the most serious consequences of climate change."


Gulf Transportation and Infrastructure

Traffic clogging Interstate 45 out of Houston a day before Hurricane Ike hit the region
[Image courtesy NASA Remote Sensing Tutorial]

The Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Transportation Systems and Infrastructure: Gulf Coast Study, Phase I provides an assessment of the vulnerabilities of transportation systems in the Central Gulf Coast region to potential changes in weather patterns and related impacts, as well as the effect of natural land subsidence and other environmental factors. The prospect of changing climate raises critical questions regarding how alterations in temperature, precipitation, storm events, and other aspects of climate could affect the nation's roads, airports, rail, transit systems, pipelines, ports, and waterways.

The area examined by the study includes 48 contiguous counties in four states,spanning from Galveston, Texas to Mobile, Alabama. Increased storm intensity may lead to more service disruption and infrastructure damage: over half of the area's major highways, almost half of the rail miles, 29 airports, and virtually all of the ports are below 7 m (23 feet) in elevation and subject to flooding and possible damage due to hurricane storm surge.

Subsequent phases of the study will focus on risks and adaptation strategies involved in planning, investment, design and operational decisions for infrastructure in the Gulf Coast region and nationwide. The study was performed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Geological Survey, and state and local researchers, and is one of 21 synthesis and assessment reports produced as part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program.

Climate Resources
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