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Increasing threat of coastal groundwater hazards from sea-level rise in California

Author

Listed:
  • K. M. Befus

    (University of Wyoming
    University of Arkansas)

  • P. L. Barnard

    (United States Geological Survey)

  • D. J. Hoover

    (United States Geological Survey)

  • J. A. Finzi Hart

    (United States Geological Survey)

  • C. I. Voss

    (United States Geological Survey)

Abstract

Projected sea-level rise will raise coastal water tables, resulting in groundwater hazards that threaten shallow infrastructure and coastal ecosystem resilience. Here we model a range of sea-level rise scenarios to assess the responses of water tables across the diverse topography and climates of the California coast. With 1 m of sea-level rise, areas flooded from below are predicted to expand ~50–130 m inland, and low-lying coastal communities such as those around San Francisco Bay are most at risk. Coastal topography is a controlling factor; long-term rising water tables will intercept low-elevation drainage features, allowing for groundwater discharge that damps the extent of shoaling in ~70% (68.9–82.2%) of California’s coastal water tables. Ignoring these topography-limited responses increases flooded-area forecasts by ~20% and substantially underestimates saltwater intrusion. All scenarios estimate that areas with shallow coastal water tables will shrink as they are inundated by overland flooding or are topographically limited from rising inland.

Suggested Citation

  • K. M. Befus & P. L. Barnard & D. J. Hoover & J. A. Finzi Hart & C. I. Voss, 2020. "Increasing threat of coastal groundwater hazards from sea-level rise in California," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(10), pages 946-952, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:10:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0874-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0874-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie & Maruf Yakubu Ahmed & Phebe Asantewaa Owusu, 2022. "Global adaptation readiness and income mitigate sectoral climate change vulnerabilities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Ian Miller & Avery Maverick & Jim Johannessen & Chloe Fleming & Seann Regan, 2023. "A Data-Driven Approach for Assessing Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Applied to Puget Sound, Washington State, USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Leonard O. Ohenhen & Manoochehr Shirzaei & Chandrakanta Ojha & Matthew L. Kirwan, 2023. "Hidden vulnerability of US Atlantic coast to sea-level rise due to vertical land motion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Suphicha Muangsri & Wendy McWilliam & Tim Davies & Gillian Lawson, 2022. "Effectiveness of Strategically Located Green Stormwater Infrastructure Networks for Adaptive Flood Mitigation in a Context of Climate Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Suphicha Muangsri & Wendy McWilliam & Gillian Lawson & Tim Davies, 2022. "Evaluating Capability of Green Stormwater Infrastructure on Large Properties toward Adaptive Flood Mitigation: The HLCA+C Methodology," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.

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