Overview

The Coastal Risk Screening Tool enables users to explore sea level rise and coastal flood risk over time, for anywhere in the world, and under multiple pollution scenarios. The maps allow users to choose between leading sea level rise models and to incorporate the most accurate elevation data available—including Climate Central’s new CoastalDEM® elevation data for areas outside the United States.

Climate Central sea-level maps are based on peer-reviewed science in leading journals. These maps should be regarded as screening tools to identify places that may require deeper investigation of risk. Big datasets always include error. Outside of the United States, maps are based on global-scale datasets for elevation, tides, and coastal flood likelihoods. Inside the U.S., more accurate but still imperfect data are used.

UPDATE: June 2, 2021

This new platform for maps depicting sea level rise and coastal flood risk provides even more of the scientifically rigorous information that Climate Central is known for in a new, sleek, and easy-to-use interface. Climate Central’s global mapping interface allows coastal stakeholders to explore various sea level rise and coastal flood risk scenarios and the resources they threaten. También disponible en Español.

Maps included:

• Map By Year: The year map allows users to explore coastal flood risk and sea level rise projections by decadal year for nearly anywhere in the world, and under multiple pollution scenarios. The map allows users to choose between the leading sea level rise models and incorporate the most accurate elevation data available.
• Map By Water Level: The water level map allows users to explore what land is at risk from specific water levels (decimal feet, meters) that could be reached through combinations of sea level rise, tides, and storm surge
• Affordable Housing: The affordable housing map allows users to explore what affordable housing in the U.S. could be threatened by sea level rise and coastal flooding in the coming decades, under multiple pollution scenarios. The map allows users to examine affordable housing at risk by state, city, county, congressional district, state legislative district, or zip code.
• Ice Sheet Contributions to Sea Level Rise: The ice sheets map allows users to explore how much land different amounts of Antarctic ice loss could put below the tideline. Because ice loss causes subtle changes in the Earth’s gravitational field, rotation, and shape, local sea level increases will vary from place to place. This map reflects these differences.
• Map By Elevation Data: Using its new elevation data model (CoastalDEM®) Climate Central found far greater global threats from sea level rise and coastal flooding than previously thought, and greater benefits from reducing their causes. This interactive map highlights the importance of accurate elevation data for assessing coastal flood risks, but the water level and year map are better suited for actually assessing those risks.

Audience

Coastal stakeholders