Impacts of sea level rise on coastal systems with special emphasis on the Mississippi River deltaic plain

Abstract

Numerous reports have recently emphasized the potential impact of global warming on future sea level rise in coastal areas. It is feared that many low-lying coastal areas, especially those dominated by wetlands, will be flooded as sea level rises over the next century. Thus, there is a need to consider critically the impacts of sea level rise and possible policy responses to these impacts. One area that can provide valuable information on both impacts and responses is the Mississippi Delta. This area has been experiencing an "apparent' sea level rise of about a metre per century for a very long time as a result of regional subsidence. This paper discusses the effect of this rise on coastal ecosystems in Louisiana and the response of public and private groups to the problem. -Authors Show more