Project Summary
Sarasota County’s Gulf Coast is a defining characteristic of the area’s history, culture and commerce. However, its low-lying coastal lands may be at risk of flooding and inundation due to rising sea levels. Under current climate change scenarios that predict polar ice sheet melt and thermal expansion of the oceans, projections of sea level rise by 2100 range from about 2.5 to 6.5 feet, as cited in a 2009 report from the Marine Policy Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory.
This project was completed by New College students as part of a research course in Environmental Studies. The class worked together as a team to conduct a coastal ecosystem hazards study using GIS and new Lidar elevation data to map and analyze the vulnerabilities of the natural and social elements of Sarasota County under 2-, 4- and 6-ft sea level rise scenarios.
Please note, these maps were created as an acedemic exercise. As such, a number of important technical corrections to the data have not been made. The maps are not suitable for planning or decision making. For more information contact Dr. Jennifer Shafer, Adjunct Professor, New College of Florida. |
