Impacts of Climate Change on the Coasts of Washington State

Daniel D. Huppert, Amber Moore, Karen Dyson

School of Marine Affairs College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle

Purpose

With 5002.3 km of coastline, Washington will experience many effects from climate change. This paper explores

several of those areas in specific regions.

The coast can be broken into 5 regions, each with their own characteristics and possible problems.

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/japanese-dock-lost-2011-tsunami-removed-washingtons-olympic-coast.html

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FORESEEN PROBLEMS

INUNDATION FLOODING EROSION LANDSLIDES SALTWATER

INTRUSION

INCREASED OCEAN SURFACE TEMP AND ACIDITY

Key Words

Substrate- What is at the bottom

of it-sand or bedrock Slope-

Shallow or steep cliffs Surrounding

conditions HAB-harmful algal

blooms

SLR-sea level rise Sand Spit-where

sediment builds up off the coast

Berms-raised barrier separating 2 areas, sand dune

Fetch-the length a wave has to build

Methods

Selected different locations and impacts for study

Understand the local consequences

See how people can adapt to these changes

NOAA

Research/Areas

1. The nature and process of coastal erosion on beaches and bluffs-Shipman, 2004; Terich, 1987; Komar, 1998

2. Roles of SLR and storm waves in accelerating shoreline erosion-Graham and Diaz, 2001; Allan and Komar, 2006; Mote et al., 2008; Zhang, Douglas, and Leatherman, 2004

3. Aquifers and saltwater intrusion-Walters, 1971; Jones, 1985

4. Increased sea temperature and HAB’s- Moore et al. 2008)

5. Ocean acidification-Doney, 2006; Feely et al., 2008

Western Washington is on edge of Juan de Fuca oceanic plate- gradual rising(2

mm/year) in NW and subsiding in S. Puget Sound(2 mm/year)

There is a wide range because of different projections and not enough research

Beaches

High-energy storms waves cause erosion

Shoreline armoring decreases the amount

of sand to sustain beaches

Cause habitat damage Erosion

Reduced sediment supply

SLR Pacific winter storms

shifting north

Google Maps

Washaway Beach

Located north entrance of Willapa Bay

100+ homes fallen into ocean

$24 mill on highway repairs

Seattle Times

Whidbey Island

Bluff erosion Increased rainfall, bad

drainage Toe erosion

51% of shoreline unstable

Landslides to increase and are 100% predicted $32 million of properties

could be lostWashington Post

San Juan Islands

More stable They are bedrock

coast Only 3% classified as

unstable

Ports and Harbors

SLR will have major impact on them

Changing nature every 40 years will decrease some cause for concern

Seattle industrial area will either be underwater or the will have to raise the land

Tacoma has plan for shifting seas, unless SLR is higher than expected

Aquifers

Most of our water will be fine

The aquifers closest to the coast will have salt water intrusion

For every foot the water table is lowered, underlying seawater rises 40ft

Zone of diffusion/mixing

Potentials- Saltwater intrusion Increased chloride Erosion of pipes

/pumps

Shellfish

WA is largest shellfish growing state

+ Temp= less growth, reproduction, distribution, and health

HAB will become more prevalent

SLR affect habitat

Acidification-less carbonate, lower survival rates

Conclusions

Many adverse effects of climate change will affect the PNW

There are certain things that we can do to prevent them

More research needs to happen