Physical forcing

Changes in climatological temperature, precipitation and runoff
Changes in variability, such as storms (FOCUS)
Sea level rise

Impact categories

ecosystems (FOCUS)
geomorphology
institutional frameworks and management
commercial fisheries and navigation
coastal development and use such as recreation (FOCUS)
urban regions
risk and the insurance sector
water quality (FOCUS)

Proposed Outline for MARA Coastal Group Report

September 18, 1998

  1. Introduction
    1. Brief characterization of the Mid Atlantic Coastal Region
      1. Geomorphology
      2. Ecosystems
      3. Water quality
      4. Coastal development and use
    2. Climate-sensitive aspects of the MAC Region
  2. Projected change in climate variables relevant to the coastal zone
    1. Sea level rise
    2. Temperature
    3. Precipitation
    4. Runoff
    5. Frequency and intensity of storms
  3. Projected impacts on the coastal zone
    1. Ecosystems
    2. Water quality
    3. Coastal erosion
    4. Coastal development and use
  4. Synthesis
    1. Discussion of uncertainties
    2. Interaction between human and climate impacts
    3. Policy recommendations

MARA Coastal Group Members:

Raymond Najjar and Eric Barron (co-chairs), PSU
Dick Bord, PSU
Rob Crane, PSU
Greg Knight, PSU
Patrick Megonigal, George Mason University
Bob O'Connor, PSU
Bruce Richards, Delaware Inland Bay Association
Court Stevenson, Horn Point Laboratory
Hal Walker, EPA (Narragansett, RI)

MARA Coastal Graduate Students: Jody Gibson, Colin Polsky, Bob Swanson

GIS Undergraduate Intern: Eric Steele

 
  Eco-systems Geomor-

phology

 Inst

Mgmt

 Fish

Navig

 Dev/Use

Rec

 Urban

Regin

 Insur

Risk

 Water

Qual
Sea Level

xxx

x

x

x

xxx

x

x

x
Storms

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx

xxx
Climate

xxx

x

x

x

xxx

x

x

xxx

x = minor impact

xxx = major impact

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