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Evolving tides aggravate nuisance flooding along the U.S. coastline
Sida Li1,2,3, Thomas Wahl4, Stefan A Talke5
1State Key Laboratory of Geodesy and Earth's Dynamics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430077, China.
Science Advances
|March 6, 2021
Summary
Secular changes in tides, not just sea-level rise, are increasing nuisance flooding (NF) events along U.S. coasts. Tidal amplification has accelerated NF, impacting coastal communities with significant socioeconomic consequences.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Oceanography
- Climate Science
Background:
- Nuisance flooding (NF) causes significant socioeconomic impacts in coastal communities.
- Sea-level rise is a primary driver of increased NF events.
- Secular changes in tides also contribute to the frequency of NF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of secular tidal changes to nuisance flooding.
- To analyze tidal amplification and range variations affecting NF events.
- To assess the impact of anthropogenic alterations on tidal changes in estuaries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 40 tidal gauge records from U.S. coasts.
- Examination of historical tidal data to identify trends.
- Correlation of tidal changes with observed NF events.
Main Results:
- Tidal amplification increased NF at 18 locations.
- Decreased tidal range suppressed NF at 11 locations.
- Estuaries exhibited the largest NF changes due to tidal shifts, often linked to human activities.
Conclusions:
- Evolving tides significantly contribute to nuisance flooding, exacerbating the effects of sea-level rise.
- The influence of tidal changes on NF is likely more widespread than currently documented.
- NF days driven by tidal changes have risen exponentially since 1950, adding substantially to observed events.
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