Virginia’s Sea Level Is Rising
Use the site below to answer the questions.
Virginia's Sea Level Rise
And It’s Costing Over $4 Billion
1.)How many inches has sea level gone up since 1950 in Hampton
Roads? __14 inches__
2.)What is the increase due to? __sinking land __
3.)The state is planning on spending $4 billion on solutions, which include
__stormwater __ & __sewage__ system protection projects.
Sea level rise is speeding up
4.)The speed of sea level rise has accelerated over the last 10 years and
now it’s rising by __one__ inch every ___4_ years.
5.)How do scientists know this? __because the sea level is measured
every 6 minutes using equipment like satellites, floating buoys off the
coast, and tidal gauges to accurately measure the local sea level as it
accelerates and changes__
Why Are Sea Levels Rising?
6.)What are the 4 causes of sea level rise in Virginia and explain each?
1.) __sinking land- when we build more buildings or collect water from the ground
our land slopes down in that area or sinks __
2.) __warming of the ocean- ice caps melt and causes more water __
3.) slowing gulf - the water isnt moving away fast enough causing flooding
4.) ice melt - since the ocean is heating up ice melts causing sea level to rise
Most flooding happens during the fall
7.)In places like Sewells Point, king tides are typically how big? a foot and
a half higher than normal
8.)Why are king tides a concern? Flooding even on sunny days
Solutions aren’t simple
9.)What area is experiencing the highest level of sea level rise on the
entire east coast? Hampton Roads
10.) What can be done to prevent further land sinkage? fill the underground
voids
What's the Future of Sea Level Rise?
11.) It took 26 years for the sea level to rise 6 inches?
12.) How many years will it take for sea level to rise an additional 6 inches?
13
13.) Select a location in the drop down box and hover the mouse over the
dark red line and share the totals for years:
Location kiptopeke
2016 0
2026 3.95
2036 8.80
2046 14.52
2050 17.06
Why Are Floods More Frequent?
14.) When the ocean rises high enough, high tides cause flooding even on
sunny days.
15.) Even though the sea level has only risen by around 5 inches, tidal
flooding has increased by 132% in some areas of Virginia since 2000.
Flooding even when there’s no rain
16.) Drainage systems are designed to channel excess rainwater from the
streets and drain it into the sea.
17.) Pressure from rising sea levels and higher tides, seawater can get
pushed into pipes and spill out into the street causing flooding even on days
without rain.
Increased storm surge flooding
18.) Slightly higher sea levels make hurricanes even more damaging .
19.) Just a few more inches of sea level rise allow a hurricane to push more
water onto the land, even if the hurricane itself doesn’t make landfall.
What's at Risk in Virginia?
20.) What’s at risk from sea level rise and flooding in VA. (list 3)
1.) Military Infrastructure
2.) Schools and Hospitals
3.) Homes and Cars
21.) The Norfolk-Virginia Beach Metropolitan Area ranks 10th in the world in
value of assets exposed to an increase in flooding from sea-level rise.
22.) Click here for explore coastal areas in VA that are at risk of flooding.
Plug in your address. What is your flood factor 1
23.) List two solutions individuals can do to help with flooding.
1.) __check for sea openings and cracks __
2.) _rooftop gardens ___
24.) List two solutions cities do to help with flooding
1.) __planring trees __
2.) __permeable pavements __
25.) List two things the federal government can do to help combat flooding.
1.) __flood maps accruate__
2.) __reward states that reduce risks__