Sea-level Rise Modeling Handbook for Managers/Scientists

This webinar was conducted as a part of the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center's Climate Change Science and Management Webinar Series. As described in this video by Thomas Doyle (USGS National Wetlands Research Center), a sea-level rise modeling handbook has been developed as a natural resource manager's guide of the science and simulation models for understanding the dynamics and impacts of sea-level rise on our coastal ecosystems. This webinar introduces the layout and content of the handbook including various methods and models for understanding past and current sea-level change and predicting ecosystem impacts of rising sea level under future climate change. Basic illustrations of the components of the Earth's hydrosphere and effects of plate tectonics, planetary orbits, and glaciation are explained to understand the long-term cycles of historical sea-level rise and fall. Discussion of proper interpretation of contemporary sea-level rates and trends from tide gauge stations and satellite altimetry missions will be presented to show their complementary aspects and value for understanding variability in eustasy and land motion for different coastal reaches of the U.S. Examples of the different types and classes of hydrology and ecosystem models used to predict potential effects of future sea-level rise at local and regional scale applications will also be presented. Coastal land managers, engineers, and scientists will benefit from this webinar and handbook illustrating tools and models that have been developed for projecting causes and consequences of sea-level change on the landscape and seascape.