Pacific Northwest Coastal Environments

Book excerpt: Pacific Northwest Coastal Environments: Earthquakes and Sea Level Rise investigates the potential impacts of changes in global sea level by examining historical sea and land levels, projected future levels, and by determining how those changes may affect future tides and storm surges to inform their potential to cause harmful impacts. This region has a unique interaction of land, sea, and tectonics. Climate and tectonic change can initiate issues ranging from an inundation of coastal areas due to a combination of sea level rise, vertical land movement, and potential tsunami. This combination of factors leads to the retreat of coastal shorelines due to erosion caused by both tidal action and wave runup. Specific topics explored in this book include the following: Coastal erosion rates along the Pacific Northwest coastline from Eureka, California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Sea cliff retreat mitigation techniques looking at both the advantages and disadvantages of the different techniques. Interaction between subduction zone earthquakes and vertical land movement. Wave characterization in both deep and shallow water. In addition, the book looks at both wave refraction and reflection along the coastline. Tides along the Pacific Northwest coastline and their role in calculating the relative sea level and its effect on coastal erosion.