Accelerated rise in sea-level to increase coastal flooding

Scientists have revealed that accelerated sea-level rise will increase the flooding and property damage triggered by tropical cyclones.

The research team led by Jonathan D. Woodruff showed that regardless of changes in storm activity, rising sea levels will become the dominant driver of flooding and coastal damage.

The researchers said predicting where, how often, and how powerful these storms will be, and when they make landfall is full of uncertainty.

An associate professor of civil and environmental engineering with the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Jennifer Irish, said that the potential for sea-level rise to dramatically change the landscape is an understudied aspect of coastal flooding.

Sea-level rise, severe storms, changing climate, erosion, and policy issues are certain factors that should be assessed in order to understand future risk, Irish said.

The researchers suggested the planners to consider elevated structures and building further inland, which will integrate vertical and landward retreat.