--- chapter: description: ~ doi: 10.7930/J06Q1V53 identifier: transportation number: 5 report_identifier: nca3 sort_key: 50 title: Transportation url: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/transportation chapter_identifier: transportation cited_by: [] confidence: The authors have high confidence sea levels are rising and storm surge on top of these higher sea levels pose risks to coastal transportation infrastructure. contributors: [] description: 'Sea level rise, coupled with storm surge, will continue to increase the risk of major coastal impacts on transportation infrastructure, including both temporary and permanent flooding of airports, ports and harbors, roads, rail lines, tunnels, and bridges.' display_name: NCA3 Finding 5.2 evidence: "Estimates of global sea level rise are documented in Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate, Key Message 10 of this report. \r\nThe prospective impact of sea level rise and storm surge on transportation systems is illustrated by the impact of recent hurricanes on U.S. coastlines. In addition, research on impacts of sea level rise and storm surge on transportation assets in particular regions of the United States demonstrate the potential for major coastal impacts (for example, CCSP 2008, Rosenzweig et al. 2011, and Suarez et al. 20058dbd70c4-cd8c-4dce-b27c-bfb412901e58,0127c256-83e6-4e22-9715-bfc0fbbfb8d9,78fbf40c-2639-480a-8410-5be748750f2b). Note that most existing literature on storm surge and sea level rise impacts on transportation systems is based on a global sea level rise of less than one meter (about 3 feet). The most recent projections include a potentially greater rise in global sea level (Ch. 2: Our Changing Climate, Key Message 10). \r\nIn addition, the key message and supporting text summarize extensive evidence documented in “Climate Impacts and U.S. Transportation.”6b4d3283-49dc-4b8d-830b-aa554e37279f " files: [] href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/report/nca3/chapter/transportation/finding/increased-risk-major-coastal-impacts.yaml identifier: increased-risk-major-coastal-impacts ordinal: 2 parents: [] process: 'In developing key messages, the chapter author team engaged, via teleconference, in multiple technical discussions from January through May 2012 as they reviewed numerous peer reviewed publications. Technical input reports (21) on a wide range of topics were also received and reviewed as part of the Federal Register Notice solicitation for public input. The author team’s review included a foundational Technical Input Report for the National Climate Assessment, “Climate Impacts and U.S. Transportation.”6b4d3283-49dc-4b8d-830b-aa554e37279f Other published literature and professional judgment were also considered as the chapter key messages were developed. The chapter author team met in St. Louis, MO, in April 2012 for expert deliberation and finalization of key messages.' references: - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/0127c256-83e6-4e22-9715-bfc0fbbfb8d9.yaml uri: /reference/0127c256-83e6-4e22-9715-bfc0fbbfb8d9 - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/1bc74f07-688c-482c-a923-483f5d3de8b5.yaml uri: /reference/1bc74f07-688c-482c-a923-483f5d3de8b5 - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/5ddaab38-f315-487d-8b7a-bb322bb9b60c.yaml uri: /reference/5ddaab38-f315-487d-8b7a-bb322bb9b60c - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/6b4d3283-49dc-4b8d-830b-aa554e37279f.yaml uri: /reference/6b4d3283-49dc-4b8d-830b-aa554e37279f - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/78fbf40c-2639-480a-8410-5be748750f2b.yaml uri: /reference/78fbf40c-2639-480a-8410-5be748750f2b - href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/8dbd70c4-cd8c-4dce-b27c-bfb412901e58.yaml uri: /reference/8dbd70c4-cd8c-4dce-b27c-bfb412901e58 report_identifier: nca3 statement: 'Sea level rise, coupled with storm surge, will continue to increase the risk of major coastal impacts on transportation infrastructure, including both temporary and permanent flooding of airports, ports and harbors, roads, rail lines, tunnels, and bridges.' type: finding uncertainties: "As noted above, new estimates of global sea level rise have overtaken most of the existing literature on transportation and sea level rise in the United States. In addition, it is not clear that the existing transportation literature reflects recent USGS work on interactions between sea level rise, wave action, and local geology.5ddaab38-f315-487d-8b7a-bb322bb9b60c\r\nNew global sea level rise estimates will enable the development of new regional estimates, as well as revision of regional coastal erosion and flood modeling. Such smaller scale estimates are important because transportation and other infrastructure impacts must necessarily be studied in a local context. \r\nGenerally speaking, modeling of sea level rise impacts using existing USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) data has well-understood limitations. Since NED data is freely and easily available, it is often used for preliminary modeling. More accurate and more recent elevation data may be captured via LIDAR campaigns, and this data collection effort will be necessary for accurate understanding of regional and local sea level rise and storm surge impacts.1bc74f07-688c-482c-a923-483f5d3de8b5\r\nAccurate understanding of transportation impacts is specific to particular infrastructure elements, so detailed inventories of local and regional infrastructure must be combined with detailed and accurate elevation data and the best available predictions of local sea level rise and storm surge. Therefore, national assessments of sea level rise must be built on detailed local and regional assessments. \r\nImproved modeling is needed on the interactions among sea level rise, storm surge, tidal movement, and wave action to get a better understanding of the dynamics of the phenomena.\r\n" uri: /report/nca3/chapter/transportation/finding/increased-risk-major-coastal-impacts url: ~