About the Project
Program Summary
NOAA’s Sectoral Applications Research Program (SARP) has funded the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network to engage in a multifaceted program to begin addressing climate change in the Great Lakes region. The program, Preparing Coastal Communities for Climate Change, includes elements designed to:
- Conduct state-of-the-art scientific modeling coupling global- and regional-scale climate modeling outputs to watershed-scale hydrology models to examine water levels, runoff, erosion and other potential local impacts of climate change of immediate concern to infrastructure managers.
- Analyze the potential economic impacts of climate change to the Great Lakes maritime industry and private marina facilities both for specific case study locations and on a regional scale.
- Develop specific tools, models, and communication strategies for meeting the climate change related needs of the Great Lakes region and beyond.
- Generate local case-studies of (1) industry-identified needs relating to potential climate impacts, (2) forecasted climate impacts based on the best available science, and (3) visualizations and other communications tools that can be used by managers and decision makers in adapting to climate change. These case studies are intended to provide models that other communities can use, replicate and apply to their own climate-related decision-making needs.
Program Goals
Climate change is a major crosscutting theme of Sea Grant’s national strategic plan for 2009-2013. Nationally, Sea Grant is dedicated to supporting the work of NOAA’s Climate Program Office and its climate impact and adaptation-related activities. Sea Grant will work with our many partners to:
- Develop comprehensive education/literacy programs focused on the immediate and long-term effects of climate-related changes
- Develop forecasting and risk assessment tools, economic and environmental impact models, and other mechanisms to help families, businesses, communities, and regions understand their risks and take them into account in making personal, business, and community-related decisions.
Activities
- Research – forecasting - variability
- Case studies about the economic impact of climate change
Key Constituents
City planners, marinas, state agencies, harbormasters, port authority staff
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