NOAA Releases 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report

“Today on February 15, 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration along with other interagency collaborators released the Sea Level Rise Technical Report providing the most up-to-date sea level rise projections available for all U.S. states and territories. The updated data offers projections out to the year 2150 and information to help communities and decision makers assess potential changes in average tide heights and height-specific threshold frequencies as they strive to adapt to sea level rise. These new and updated projections fill in the gaps in information for some rural and underserved regions.

The report shares that on average sea level along the U.S. coast is projected to rise around 10-12 inches in the next 30 years (2020-2050). In terms of impacts of flooding, most U.S. locations will see minor high tide flooding become a normal occurrence by 2050 and more damaging moderate high tide flooding occurring more often than minor flooding occurs today. You can find the regional projections for sea level rise and impacts of flooding in your area in the report.

The Technical Report is the latest product of the Interagency Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Hazard and Tool Task Force which includes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Additional support was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. In conjunction with this report, NOAA and partner agencies plan to release updated tools and guidance for community leaders working to address issues related to sea level rise and implement adaptive management strategies including the most recent updated Coastal County Snapshots released this month.”

Read the report here.

Photo credit: NOAA