The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is a center within the Earth Institute at Columbia University. CIESIN works at the intersection of the social, natural, and information sciences, and specializes in on-line data and information management, spatial data integration and training, and interdisciplinary research related to human interactions in the environment.

Assessment of Sea Level Rise Impacts on Wetlands: Preliminary Findings

A new data set and related map client have been produced in conjunction with a preliminary assessment of internationally important coastal wetlands and their vulnerability to sea level rise due to climate change. The study, “Evaluating the Risk to Ramsar Sites from Climate Change-induced Sea Level Rise,” was conducted by CIESIN as an input to the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Ramsar sites are wetlands designated as Wetlands of International Importance under an intergovernmental treaty established in 1971.

Two scenarios were evaluated: sea level rise (SLR) of up to 1 meter, which is close to what is predicted for this century by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and SLR of up to 2 meters, which is an upper bound for SLR in this century under a rapid ice melt scenario. The study also examines impediments to landward migration of wetlands, such as urban areas and populated areas. The data are available for download in spreadsheet format, and the map client can visualize the risk to coastal Ramsar sites of 1- and 2-meter increases in mean sea level.

The study recognizes that sea level rise will not be consistent globally, but is affected by coastal bathymetry and local topography and tides, and the extent of areas periodically submerged will also be affected by storm surges. There will also be many secondary SLR impacts, such as the displacement of human populations and agricultural activities, that could have additional consequences for wetland and biodiversity loss. Because time and resources did not permit this level of analysis globally, the report and associated data represent a first-order risk assessment.