Addressing Sea Level Rise from the Ground Up: Understanding the Implications for Coastal Geotechnics
Publication: Geo-Extreme 2021
ABSTRACT
One of the most critical climate change processes affecting coastal areas is sea level rise. In addition to inundating low-lying areas near the coast and increasing the frequency of flooding, sea level rise may raise the groundwater table, drive saltwater intrusion, and increase the risk for erosion and scour. These impacts represent key equilibrium shifts that will affect geotechnical site conditions and design parameters. Frequent inundation will likely increase the demand for floodable, elevated, and floating foundation systems; frequent flooding of roads may reduce the service life of pavements and erode unbound subgrade material. Groundwater rise will increase hydrostatic pressures on earth retaining structures and foundations and may complicate construction projects requiring excavation. The threat of saltwater intrusion will encourage innovative strategies for developing hydraulic barriers. Increased erosion may reduce the longevity of beach nourishment projects and increase the rate of scour around infrastructure. This paper expands on the implications of sea level rise listed above and provides an outlook on how sea level rise might impact future projects and drive trends in coastal geotechnical practice.
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Geo-Extreme 2021
Pages: 393 - 402
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Nov 4, 2021
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