The federal government has unveiled its first comprehensive online resource about rising sea levels with the aim to provide data from multiple federal agencies to communities throughout the country, including Hampton Roads, in one site.
The platform, called the U.S. Sea Level Change website, has gathered information from the EPA, FEMA, NASA, the United States Department of Defense, and others. The initiative aims to create a "whole-of-government" effort to make information on climate change and sea level more accessible.
"This resource puts the latest federal science on sea level rise at people's fingertips and helps them identify, understand and address risks," said Jane Lubchenco, White House deputy director for Climate and Environment, in a statement. "This effort highlights how federal agencies are working together to deliver accessible and usable science as we confront the climate crisis."
The website includes maps detailing past and future changes in sea level, including changes in Hampton Roads. Users can find tide gauges from across the country to access local climate data, including several regions in Virginia. The commonwealth has three gauges reporting to the U.S. Sea Level Change website. One is in Norfolk, while others are in the Northern Neck area and on the Eastern Shore.
The National Sea Level Explorer reported Sewells Point in Norfolk had about a foot of sea level rise from 1970 to the present. The explorer estimates that by 2050, sea level at Sewells Point will rise another 10-14 inches compared to levels in 2020.
Sewells Point set a record in 2023, measuring 23 days of high-tide, or "nuisance" flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that from May 2024 to April 2025, Sewells Point in Norfolk can get anywhere between 11 and 15 days of high-tide flooding. By 2050, tools on the government's website estimates that Norfolk will get up to 150 minor high tide flood days per year if changes in climate are not addressed.
Rick Spinrad, administrator for NOAA, said in a news release that the U.S. Sea Level Change website will bridge the gap between scientific data and local leaders and communities that need to make real-time decisions regarding flooding infrastructure or city planning. By providing a central hub for federal sea level rise science, the initiative aims to enhance public understanding and support resilience for coastal communities across the nation, he said.
"By boosting access to sea level rise data, the Interagency Task Force on Sea Level Change is helping local communities across the nation access essential information that strengthens our resilience to the changing climate," Spinrad said.