Future Coastal Flooding

Storms have always happened along the coast. Big waves and high water can be exciting, but when they threaten our homes and communities, they can be scary and even dangerous.

The frequency and intensity of storms we have experienced in the past have long been a good guide for what we can expect in the future. However, the future is starting to look less like the past.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists study our coasts to understand how they respond to storms today. But rising sea levels and a changing climate will alter these natural cycles in the future. Changing conditions leave us with a need for better predictions of future coastal hazards, such as flooding and coastal erosion.

To help communities assess vulnerability due to coastal flooding today and in the future, the USGS developed the Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS).

Explore the geonarrative to learn more.