The Potential Impacts Of A 1 Meter Sea Level Rise And Increased Storminess On The Landscape And Wildlife Of The Somerset Levels In The Severn Estuary

Author(s)

Olivia O'Connor

School Name

South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Ken Addison, St. Peter’s College, University of Oxford

Abstract

This research project was conducted to identify the main concerns, risks, and possible damage that the Somerset Levels of the Severn Estuary in Wales is currently facing. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, it is likely that this area will be affected by a 1 meter sea level rise and increased storminess by 2100. This climate change could be detrimental to the health of the wildlife and landscape of the area, as it may result in excess flooding. The larger purpose of this research is to come to a conclusion on how this change will affect the area and what precautions can be taken to lessen the damage from flooding. In order to identify which areas would be most susceptible to flooding, a series of land surveying was done to measure the elevations of the different areas. With this data, a map was then created with the appropriate data plotted, showing the areas that were most vulnerable to the increase in sea level and most likely to flood.

Start Date

4-11-2015 9:45 AM

End Date

4-11-2015 10:00 AM

COinS
 
Apr 11th, 9:45 AM Apr 11th, 10:00 AM

The Potential Impacts Of A 1 Meter Sea Level Rise And Increased Storminess On The Landscape And Wildlife Of The Somerset Levels In The Severn Estuary

This research project was conducted to identify the main concerns, risks, and possible damage that the Somerset Levels of the Severn Estuary in Wales is currently facing. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change, it is likely that this area will be affected by a 1 meter sea level rise and increased storminess by 2100. This climate change could be detrimental to the health of the wildlife and landscape of the area, as it may result in excess flooding. The larger purpose of this research is to come to a conclusion on how this change will affect the area and what precautions can be taken to lessen the damage from flooding. In order to identify which areas would be most susceptible to flooding, a series of land surveying was done to measure the elevations of the different areas. With this data, a map was then created with the appropriate data plotted, showing the areas that were most vulnerable to the increase in sea level and most likely to flood.