Marshes on the Move

A Manager’s Guide to Understanding and Using Model Results Depicting Potential Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands

Predicting where and how coastal environments will be impacted by sea level rise is a complex science. Despite the availability of several models and methods, interpreting results and data can be challenging for coastal officials. This publication provides a basic understanding of the parameters and uncertainties involved in modeling the impacts that sea level rise will have on coastal wetlands. Information provided:

• Types of wetland migration questions models can help answer
• Appropriate use of models and how to communicate uncertainty
• Key sea level rise dynamics that affect wetlands, and input parameters and data needs for modeling
• Complicating factors and important questions to ask about model results