Interesting Aspect to an Environmental Impact Study

[Guest]

I am completing some work for graduate school looking at wave height analysis using a FEMA model (WHAFIS 3.0). As part of my project, I have been looking at published Flood Insurance Studies (FIS) reports. A lot of times you can also find the same information (different format) in Environmental Impact Studies (EIS).

Of particular interest, one of the case studies I am using is NASA Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. The document I was looking at was addressing all environmental impacts, but contained a good bit of information about tidal surges and flooding. The analysis included looking at the 100-yr and 500-yr still water elevation heights as well as wave crest heights but also included consideration of the effects of rising sea level.

A formula has been published for evaluating global (or eustatic) sea level rise as follows:

E(t) = 1.2t + bt2, such that:

E(t) is global sea level rise after 1987 in mm;

t is time in years; and

b is an emperical coefficient ranging from 0.001 to 0.004 in/yr2 depending on different scenarios.

I found it interesting that a public record documenting consideration of sea level rise due to global warming at a U.S. Federal Facility.

JR

 

[grover]

Not every government agency is micromanaged by politicians tied into business interests. As you've noted, SOME are managed by scientists and engineers!