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Background Documents Supporting Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.1: Coastal Elevations and Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise

Edited by James G. Titus and Elizabeth M. Strange. 2008. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA 430-R-07-004.

All files listed in the following Table of Contents are available for viewing or download in Adobe Acrobat 4.0 (pdf) format. You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

You can download the full report (PDF) (354 pp., 11,675 KB), or see below for individual sections. For details about minor changes made to the original version in May 2008, see errata (PDF) (1 page, 53 KB).

For additional reports focused on the implications of rising sea level, go to the Climate Change Site's Sea Level Rise Reports section.

Preface and Table of Contents

Preface and Full Table of Contents (PDF) (10 pp., 157 KB)

Chapter 1: Coastal Elevations in the Mid-Atlantic

Maps of Lands Close to Sea Level along the Mid-Atlantic Coast (PDF) (44 pp., 2,150 KB) by J. G. Titus and J. Wang – A coastal elevation data set for the Mid-Atlantic for purposes of assessing the potential for coastal lands to be inundated by rising sea level. For details about minor changes made to the original version in May 2008, see errata (PDF) (1 page, 53 KB).

Interpolating Elevations (PDF) (23 pp., 820 KB) by R. Jones and J. Wang – Methods used to quantify the area of land close to sea level.

Uncertainty Ranges (PDF) (66 pp., 962 KB) by J. G. Titus and D. Cacela – Uncertainty ranges for estimates of the amount of land close to sea level. For details about minor changes made to the original version in May 2008 see errata (PDF) (1 page, 53 KB).

Chapter 2: Wetlands Accretion in the Mid-Atlantic

Site-Specific Scenarios for Wetlands Accretion in the Mid-Atlantic Region (PDF) (41 pp., 4,301 KB) by D. J. Reed, D. A. Bishara, D. R. Cahoon, J. Donnelly, M. Kearney, A. S. Kolker, L. L. Leonard, R. A. Orson, J. C. Stevenson – An expert panel assessment of how Mid-Atlantic coastal wetlands would respond to changes associated with three sea level rise scenarios.

Maps that Depict Site-Specific Scenarios for Wetland Accretion in the Mid-Atlantic Region (PDF) (12 pp., 1,013 KB) by J.G. Titus, R. Jones, R. Streeter – Maps and a data set depicting a set of site-specific assumptions for wetland vertical accretion developed by a panel of wetland scientists.

Chapter 3: Mid-Atlantic Coastal Habitats and Environmental Implications of Sea Level Rise

Overview (PDF) (24 pp., 933 KB) by A. Shellenbarger Jones – Discussion of species and habitats of the Mid-Atlantic from New York to Virginia that are at risk from sea level rise.

New York to Virginia (PDF) (51 pp., 1,115 KB) - Discussions by various authors of species and habitats of the Mid-Atlantic from New York to Virginia that are at risk from sea level rise.

Chesapeake Bay (PDF) (39 pp., 294 KB) - Discussion of species and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay that are at risk from sea level rise.

Sea Level Rise Modeling Study (PDF) (42 pp., 2,032 KB) by R. Jones and E. M. Strange - A pilot study of coastal Ocean County, New Jersey, which develops and applies methods for evaluating risks to coastal ecosystems under various sea level rise and armoring scenarios.

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