SEA LEVEL RISE
One of the biggest challenges facing most global coastal cities will be adaptation to changes in relative sea level. Much of South Florida and the Miami metropolis sits of land at very low elevation. The CRUNCH Miami research team is focusing on two municipalities: the City of Miami Beach and the City of South Miami. These two municipalities will face varying challenges over the next 80 years and beyond as the Atlantic Ocean encroaches on what was once dry land.
The geology of South Florida, a bedrock of porous limestone, enhances the risk of flooding as water can percolate up through the limestone. The map to the right shows the rising sea level in blue and areas of land that are lower than the current projected sea level in red. The graph below shows NOAA’s various predictions as to when to expect such levels of sea level rise.
The two municipalities are outlined in red with the City of South Miami in the lower left quadrant of the map and the City of Miami Beach in the upper right quadrant.
