Matching Mean Sea Level Rise Projections to Local Elevation Datums
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 2
Abstract
A method is presented to consistently tie future mean sea level rise (MSLR) scenario projections to local geodetic and tidal datums. This extends the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) guidance for incorporating the effects of future MSLR into coastal projects. While USACE relies on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 19-year National Tidal Datum Epoch (NTDE) for its datum relationships, the approach proposed herein generalizes this guidance by choosing the appropriate 19-year epoch centered on the start year of the MSLR scenario under consideration. The procedure takes into account the local annual sea level variability, which confounds the matching to any given single year while generalizing and preserving the 19-year averaging long used by NOAA to calculate the NTDE. Examples of the MSLR scenario matching procedure are given using actual data and projections for La Jolla, California, and Sewells Point (Hampton Roads), Virginia.
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Acknowledgments
This study was conducted in collaboration with SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific under Grant No. SI-1703 from the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). This paper was markedly improved owing to the constructive criticism from the three anonymous reviewers to whom the authors are grateful. The contribution of SERDP Program Manager Dr. John Hall is especially acknowledged, who asked the key question, “Sea level rise relative to what?”
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Information
Published In
Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 2 • March 2013
Pages: 142 - 146
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 4, 2011
Accepted: Feb 9, 2012
Published online: Feb 13, 2012
Published in print: Mar 1, 2013
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