NOAA Awards Over $460K to Forecast Sea Level Rise and Erosion in North Carolina
NOAA today awarded East Carolina University more than $450,000 to develop of a geographic information systems (GIS) tool to predict ecosystem modification due to a rise in sea level in North Carolina.
A rising sea level poses many threats to coastal cities, ports, and wetlands. An increase in sea level will provide a higher base for storm surges, and increase the rate of shoreline erosion. Researchers at East Carolina University will construct a GIS database of shoreline variables including off-shore bottom characteristics, shoreline geometry, height and composition of sediment banks, vegetation, boat wake, soil series, marsh zone width, land form type and location, and elevation. By using relevant GIS datasets, remotely sensed observations, sediment cores and samples that have been collected and analyzed over the last two decades, researchers can determine the factors and scales necessary to evaluate shore-zone change.
Related NCCOS Center(s): CSCOR
Shorter web link for sharing: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/?p=533
