Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Assessing Coastal Vulnerability To Storm Surge And Wave Impacts With Projected Sea Level Rise Within The Salish Sea, Nathan R. Vanarendonk

WWU Graduate School Collection

Sea level rise (SLR) in the Salish Sea, a large inland waterway shared between Canada and the United States, is expected to be 0.3 to 1.8 m by the year 2100. Uncertainty in greenhouse gas emissions, global ice sheet loss, and other controls such as vertical land movement all contribute to this range. Valuable property, infrastructure, and critical habitats for shellfish and threatened salmon populations are at risk to coastal changes associated with SLR. Additionally, development in Washington State is expected to accelerate through the end of the 21st century adding extra pressure on protecting ecosystems and people from natural …