Using GIS to Compare East Coast United States and South East Asia

What is GIS?

• “A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth.” -ESRI

Possibly the earliest use of the geographic method, in 1854 John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak in London using points to represent the locations of some individual case. His study of the distribution of cholera led to the source of the disease, a contaminated water pump within the heart of the cholera

outbreak.

How Can We Use It

• By using known elevations and predicted sea level rise we can input this data into a GIS software. We can then map and investigate areas that can be affected by potential sea level rise

Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest nations is also the country most vulnerable to sea-level rise. The population is already severely affected by storm surges. Catastrophic events in the past have caused damage up to 100 km inland. It is hard to imagine to what extent these catastrophes would be with accelerated sea-level rise.

Examining Bangladesh

Scenario

Land area1000km2

Population 19891000k est.

Pop. 20301000k est.

150 cm22 (16%)

17 (15%) 34 (15%)

Bangl. tot134 (100%)

112 (100%)

224 (100%)

The data given here are course estimates, using the same

parameters as Delft Hydraulics. (UNEP/Delft 1989)

Examining Bangladesh

High population density areas will be inundated with a modest 1-3m rise in sea level

Examining the Mid-AtlanticMore than half of the region’s population lives near the coast, and communities and recreational areas along the region's lengthy coastline are already vulnerable to coastal flooding, erosion and storms.  Sea-level rise due to global warming would raise storm surge levels and increase the risk of salt-water intrusion into coastal groundwater resources and estuaries.  For example, a scenario of a 24-inch rise in sea level along Delaware's coast could mean inundation of about 22,000 acres of land in the state if no protective measures are taken. If sea level rises faster than wetlands can migrate inland, they would be inundated and eventually lost.

Examining the Mid-Atlantic

The cost for protecting and not protecting the coasts from sea-level rise is incredibly high. Looking at the picture on the right we can see that a lot of land in the Delaware Bay and along the coast will be lost.

Land Loss in the Mid-Atlantic

Extensive mapping with a GIS software can inform planners and city officials as to where there will be the great loss of land due to predicted sea level rise. With this knowledge officials can make changes to the zoning laws and plan for protection.