DGESL : Research : Climate Change and Sea Level : Sea Level Rise

Department of Geosciences Environmental Studies Laboratory : Research

Climate Change and Sea Level Technical Description for Maps of Susceptible Areas (versión en español) Using digital elevation models (DEMs) available through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), we calculated coastal areas susceptible to sea level rise based solely on elevation and adjacency to the sea for regions around the globe (Weiss and Overpeck, in preparation). Data from the Global 30 Arc-second Elevation Dataset (GTOPO30), which offer a global DEM with raster resolution of approximately one kilometer, were used for global analysis. Shorelines are an inherent feature in this dataset. For Puerto Rico and selected areas of the United States, data with a raster resolution of 30 meters from the National Elevation Dataset were utilized. At the time of data retrieval, this dataset contained Puerto Rico, the conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. Coverage of American Samoa has since been added. As shorelines are not defined in this dataset, vector shoreline data from the NOAA Coastal Services Center were obtained, converted to raster format, and employed in defining shorelines. We created an algorithm for application in geographic information system software in order to perform a cell-by-cell analysis of DEMs, determining for each cell whether or not its value (i.e., elevation) is less than or equal to a particular integer and, if so, whether or not this cell is adjacent or connected to the sea by cells of equal or lesser value. The algorithm was applied for integer values from one through six to reflect our goal of determining areas susceptible to sea level rise of one to six meters. Due to such factors as spatial resolution and possible inaccuracies with DEMs to which the alogrithm is applied, discrepancies may exist between areas mapped as being susceptible to sea level rise on this website and areas determined as such from more detailed studies that address this issue at local scales. Please contact us about discrepancies that you encounter so that we may provide a catalog of them for future viewers of these dynamic maps. Dynamic maps and the webpages on which they are presented were created using ESRI's ArcIMS© internet technology. Sources of data in addtion to the DEMs and its derivatives appearing in the layer lists of individual dynamic maps are listed in the following table. Use of these data is to provide spatial reference on maps.		Mailing Address 1040 E. Fourth St. Department of Geosciences University of Arizona Gould-Simpson Room 208 Tucson, AZ 85721-0077 Telephone Number 1.520.621.8025 Facsimile Number 1.520.621.2672


Data Layer	Source
airports	National Atlas
cities	ESRI and National Atlas
continents	ESRI
counties	National Atlas
countries	ESRI
highways	National Atlas
hurricane tracks	National Atlas
lakes	ESRI and National Atlas
population	Oak Ridge National Laboratory and USGS
railroads	National Atlas
rivers	ESRI and National Atlas
states	ESRI


DISCLAIMER: Users of these maps agree by their use to hold blameless each and all individuals and organizations involved in their development for any liability associated with their use in any form. In addition, the map developers assume no responsibility or liability for actions or other information based on these maps.

Environmental Studies Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona
All contents © 2003 Arizona Board of Regents
Send comments or questions to Jeremy Weiss, jlweiss@email.arizona.edu

Earth image retreived from http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Unique/ on 14 January 2003

Last updated November 28, 2006
Document located at http://www.geo.arizona.edu/dgesl/research/other/climate_change_and_sea_level/sea_level_rise/sea_level_rise_technical.htm