The Pacific Institute is a nonpartisan research institute that works to advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity.
The USGS Sea Level Rise project comprises an approach for determining how multiple drivers of environmental change would interact to change ecosystems targeted for restoration.
These data include areas inundated by 100-year unimpeded Pacific coastal flooding under baseline (year 2000) conditions for the California Coastline, as well as areas inundated by 100-year unimpeded Pacific coastal flooding under a scenario of 1.4-meter (55-inch) sea-level rise. These data are available for download via the Pacific Institute.
These layers represent areas around San Francisco Bay at risk of inundation, and correspond to varying amounts of long-term sea level rise (varying over decades) in conjunction with various return levels corresponding to shorter-term variability (hours to years). Most of these areas are currently behind levees or other protective structures, and would only be inundated if those structures were to fail. These data are described in detail in the reference: Knowles, Noah. 2010. Potential Inundation Due to Rising Sea Levels in the San Francisco Bay Region. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 8:1. Available at
http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=jmie_sfews;volume=8;issue=1.
For use in this visualization, we have made the following adaptations to the above mentioned data sources:
Bay Area Inundation: We have overlayed the "100 years" recurrence interval data for 0, 50, 100, and 140 cm Sea Level rise.
Pacific Institute Coastal Data: We have overlayed the "Area inundated by mean higher high water (MHHW) under baseline conditions (year 2000)" and "Area inundated by mean higher high water (MHHW) under 1.4-meter (55-inch) sea-level rise scenario."
Zoom to the full extent of California
Change the opacity of the overlay
Using the Area Selection Type Menu to the left, edit types of selection areas:
Select various chart options in the dropdown menus to the right, which can include Month, Model, and Temperature ranges (High, Low, or Average).
Note: The first set of chart options control the variables being viewed on the map.
Click "Add Chart" to create an additional chart to compare with. After creating the new chart, click on a new area of the map to view a chart for the same options in another location. Or change an option in the dropdown menu to view the chart for the same location, with different settings.
To edit the first chart again, either directly edit the dropdown menus, or click on the Location Name and then click on a new location on the map.
Click "Predefined boundaries" in the Area Selection Type Menu to the left before clicking on an area of the map, if you'd like to compare counties to one another.
Fix the locations of the graphs to one area by clicking this toggle.
Global models indicate that California may see up to a 55 inch (140 cm) rise in sea level within this century given expected rise in temperatures around the world. The following map tool displays areas that may be in threat of inundation during an extreme flood event (100 year flood).
These data were developed by scientists from the USGS (Bay Area) and Pacific Institute (Coast). Blue color indicates areas already in threat today, while the lighter shades are area projected to also be in threat given the expected sea level rise.
These maps do not currently take into account protective structures, such as levees. New maps are currently being developed by reseachers to include these structures.
More up to date information on the the State's response to sea level rise may be found at the Coastal and Ocean Climate Action Team.
Create a chart by clicking a location on the map and altering one of the dropdown option boxes.
The data presented in this tool represent a projection of potential future climate scenarios, they are not predictions. These data are meant to illustrate how the climate may change based on a variety of different potential social and economic factors. The default visualizations in this tool are comprised of the average values from a variety of scenarios and models. Find out more about climate change data.
This information is being made available for informational purposes only. Users of this information agree by their use to hold blameless the State of California, and its respective officers, employees, agents, contractors, and subcontractors for any liability associated with its use in any form.
This work shall not be used to assess actual coastal hazards, insurance requirements, or property values and specifically shall not be used in lieu of Flood Insurance Studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Data Set Contributed: Pacific Institute Coastal Data
These data include areas inundated by 100-year unimpeded Pacific coastal flooding under baseline (year 2000) conditions for the California Coastline, as well as areas inundated by 100-year unimpeded Pacific coastal flooding under a scenario of 1.4-meter (55-inch) sea-level rise. These data are available for download via the Pacific Institute.
Data Set Contributed: Bay Area Inundation
These layers represent areas around San Francisco Bay at risk of inundation, and correspond to varying amounts of long-term sea level rise (varying over decades) in conjunction with various return levels corresponding to shorter-term variability (hours to years). Most of these areas are currently behind levees or other protective structures, and would only be inundated if those structures were to fail. These data are described in detail in the reference: Knowles, Noah. 2010. Potential Inundation Due to Rising Sea Levels in the San Francisco Bay Region. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, 8:1. Available at
http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=jmie_sfews;volume=8;issue=1.
2011 April 13
Many of California’s beaches may shrink in the future because of rising seas and increased erosion from winter storms. Currently, many beaches are protected from erosion through manmade sand replenishment (or “nourishment”) programs, which bring in sand from outside sources to replace the diminishing supply of natural sand. In fact, many of the wide sandy beaches in southern California around Santa Monica, Venice, and Newport Beach were created and are maintained entirely by sand nourishment programs. As sea levels rise, increasing volumes of replacement sand will be needed to maintain current beach width and quality. California beach nourishment programs currently cost millions of dollars each year. As global warming continues, the costs of beach nourishment programs will rise, and in some regions beach replenishment may no longer be viable.
2011 April 12
California's economy, including foreign and domestic trade, relies heavily upon its transportation infrastructure. The state’s important role in the world economy makes its transport systems vital to people inside and outside its borders.
