Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Determining Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise

A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the rate of sea-level rise and the response of shorelines to sea-level change.

Students will examine and analyze sea-level change data and shoreline response for the coast of California including Point Reyes National Seashore. They will learn about coastal vulnerability and will calculate the coastal vulnerability index (CVI).

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

1. What are the factors that determine the vulnerability of a coastline to flooding caused by rising sea-levels?
2. How is the coastal vulnerability index calculated?

About the Tool

Tool Name	Mapping Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise at Point Reyes National Seashore
Discipline	Geography, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline	Climate Change and Sea Level Rise; Coastal Vulnerability Factors; Geomorphology; Accretion; Erosion; Wave Exposure; Tidal Range
Climate Topic	Disasters and Hazards; Climate and the Hydrosphere
Type of Tool	Laboratory Activity
Grade Level	Undergraduate
Location	North America
	USA
	California
Language	English
Translation
Developed by	Len Vacher, University of South Florida
Hosted at	Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Link	https://serc.carleton.edu/sp/ssac/national_parks/examples/35176.html
Access	Online, Offline, Login Required
Computer Skills	Intermediate