Areas Vulnerable to Coastal Flooding & Sea Level Rise

Provided by: Resource Watch |Published on: April 27, 2021

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Synopsis

This interactive world map displays areas likely to be flooded at various amount of rising water due to sea level rise, tide, and storm surges.
Ten different layers are available, ranging from 0.5 meters to 30 meters of sea level rise.

Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography

Authors: Resource Watch

Region: Global, New Jersey

Languages: English

Positives

The map is simple enough for students to navigate on their own.
The different layers allow students to visualize the relationship between sea level rise and the increase in flood risk areas.

Prerequisites

There are some limitations to the dataset outlined under "Cautions" in the "Further Information" section on the left side of the page.
Though it is a global representation, the map can easily be zoomed in to specific areas.
Students should be familiar with sea level rise and its relation to climate change.

Differentiation & Implementation

If students live in a coast region, they can use this map to determine the flooding risk in their city based on the various scenarios.
Students can use this map to study the flood risk in a specific area and then research and propose ideas for mitigation.
In a geography course students can use this map to discuss how flooding will impact settlement patterns and land use in coastal regions.
Similar interactive maps that are more specific to certain high-risk flooding areas include this map focused on New Jersey, this map that looks at eight different cities around the globe, and this map that concentrates on high-risk coastal regions in the United States.
These personal stories of flooding from North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Georgia could be used to further engage students with this topic.
For more on solutions and mitigation efforts, check out the article Solutions Can Protect Coastal Communities, and the video Inside a City Redesigned for Superstorms and Sea Level Rise.

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