Communicating Sea Level Rise Risk with a Coastal Vulnerability Index

Global climate change stressors downscale to specific local vulnerabilities, thus requiring unique local adaptation strategies. In southeast Florida, sea level rise (SLR) is of specific concern, both as a present and as an impending threat that requires a localized planning approach. Coastal populations are particularly at risk due to erosion, inundation and storm surge, but interior populations are also susceptible to rising water tables and extended periods of inundation amplified by SLR. Robust SLR adaptation options require significant economic costs that many people may not be willing to pay for if they do not understand the risk. Innovative planning and design approaches can mitigate SLR hazards that are already occurring and are projected to increase in frequency and severity.A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) is a unique tool that communicates relative risk based on both physical and socioeconomic indicators. This is achieved by multiplying probability by consequence for a collection of spatial units. This study presents a CVI for Broward County, FL that identifies low-lying vulnerable populations by census block group. Physical indicators include elevation and storm surge zone, and socioeconomic indicators include income, age, and population density. The spatial intersection of the physical and social indicators suggested that the vulnerability to SLR in Broward County, FL is not limited to the coastal populations. Results pinpoint areas in which to focus on increasing awareness and resilience to SLR impacts.

Volume Editors
Anthony Abbate, Francis Lyn & Rosemary Kennedy

ISBN
978-0-935502-90-9