Supporting Science and Practice on Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

As the global climate warms and sea levels rise, incremental changes to our watersheds can have enormous impacts. What does the latest research reveal? What does climate change mean for our state? 

For years, North Carolina Sea Grant led the former NC Sentinel Site Cooperative, which leveraged resources and provided information related to the impacts of sea level rise on coastal habitats and communities. In December 2019, the NC Sentinel Site Cooperative held a seminar to provide a research update at the NC Coastal Conference.

North Carolina Sea Grant participated in the state’s development of the new N.C. Climate Risk Assessment and Resiliency Plan. Coastal resilience specialist Sarah Spiegler served on the state’s Natural and Working Lands Stakeholder Group’s Coastal Habitats Subcommittee, which advised on the plan. 

In addition, North Carolina Sea Grant helps facilitate the Surface Elevation Tables (SET) Community of Practice. This collaborative brings together scientists, resource managers, and town staff in North Carolina who have installed SETs to understand elevation changes relative to rising seas. Access the interactive NC SET map, and/or read more about SETs in Coastwatch.

North Carolina Sea Grant also regularly offers funding for students and established researchers, who capitalize on these opportunities to conduct new research on a wide range of subjects, including climate change and its associated impacts. This new science informs our programming and contributes valuable scholarship to several fields.