Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities - Climate ...

Introduction and Context 3irrigation for agriculture. Rising sea levels and increased storm intensity couldimpact water control structures such as levees and dams in the coastal zone.• Agriculture. The impacts of climate change on agriculture may be intensifiedin low-lying coastal areas. Saltwater intrusion may render some lands inappropriatefor farming. Stronger storms and increased precipitation or drought maylead to major changes in planting patterns and types of crops grown.• Forestry. In coastal areas, forests may be affected by many of the same factors asagriculture, but increased severity of storms may have a greater impact on forestsdue to the longer cycle from planting to harvest. Loss of standing timber dueto high winds may also have long term economic impacts. Saltwater encroachmentand more frequent saturation of coastal forest soils may affect the potentialfor forest regeneration and other silvicultural practices.• Public Health. Climate-related impacts on health and well-being include impactson food supply, disease transmission, and environmental health. An increaseis expected in contamination of coastal fishing and recreational watersin areas with high runoff and stressed sanitation systems; changes in access toand quality of food from the sea; and northward shifts in habitat. Vector-bornediseases may also be intensified in coastal areas as temperature and rainfall patternschange. Higher concentrations of populations in coastal areas may intensifythe impacts of increased heat and humidity in coastal areas.• Transportation. Increased flooding and inundation of roads and bridges incoastal areas may impede emergency preparation for and response to coastalstorms, delay ground and other transportation, or alter traffic patterns. Improvementsto maritime transportation infrastructure to respond to climate changemay be a complex mix of public and private investment because most freight facilitiesare privately owned. Maintaining effective transportation through portsis of special concern due to their significant impact on the national economy.• Energy Supply. Most saltwater consumption in U.S. coastal counties occurs duringthermoelectric power generation. Changes in water temperature may reducethe effectiveness of water as a cooling medium. The coasts are areas of explorationfor energy sources including traditional sources, such as the extraction andtransportation of offshore oil to inland areas, and alternative sources, such astidal, wave, and wind energy.• Ecosystems and Biodiversity. The ecosystems and biodiversity report of theNCA will examine the impacts of rising sea levels and other changing climaticfactors on land cover and ecosystems. Temperature and changes in the hydrologiccycle are likely to have significant effects on both coastal ecosystems andbiodiversity. On the coast, wetlands and the associated species will face pressurefrom changes in salinity, inundation, and erosion. As coastal areas continue todevelop, less upland area will be available for wetland restoration or migrationdue to the presence of hardened shorelines.• Urban Infrastructure and Vulnerability. Most of the U.S. population lives withcoastal watersheds and a significant portion of the nation’s infrastructure is atrisk due to increased inundation and erosion from storms and sea-level rise.