Sea Level Changes and the Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal EnvironmentTexas Coastal Environment

Introduction to lesson used with “A Virtual Tour of Texas Gulf Introduction to lesson used with “A Virtual Tour of Texas Gulf

Coast Barrier Islands” 3D modelCoast Barrier Islands” 3D model

Developed by a partnership between

Bureau of Economic GeologyThe University of Texas at Austin

Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies

Texas A&M University Corpus Christi

And

Texas State Energy Conservation Office

Gulf of Mexico

Texas

Flo

rida

Cuba

Louisiana

MississippiAlabama

Mexico

Shoreline Shoreline LengthLength

Gulf = 600 km Gulf = 600 km Shoreline between Sabine Pass – Louisiana/TX border and the Rio Grande - TX/Mexico border

Bays = 9,400 kmBays = 9,400 kmShoreline surrounding all of the bays on TX coast (Galveston, Laguna Madre, etc.)

Rio Grande

Gulf of Mexico

Sabine Pass

Texas

GalvestonBay

Laguna Madre

MississippiRiver Delta

Increasing Carbon DioxideIncreasing Carbon Dioxide

Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Sources of Carbon DioxideSources of Carbon Dioxide

Source: Energy Information Administration

You release CO2 into the atmosphere every time you:

•Watch TV•Use the Air Conditioner •Turn on a Light •Use a Hair Dryer •Ride in a Car •Use a Computer •Listen to a Stereo •Wash or Dry Clothes •Use a Dish Washer •Microwave a Meal

Electric Power Generation 40% of CO2 emissionsTransportation 32 % of CO2 emissions

Some of the infrared energy is emitted into space.       

Some of the infrared energy further warms the Earth.       

Some of the infrared energy is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which re-emit the energy in all directions.

      

Heat (infrared energy) radiates outward from the warmed surface of the Earth.       

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT:

 

Sunlight brings energy into the climate system; most of it is absorbed by the oceans and land.

      

Higher concentrations of CO2 and other "greenhouse" gases trap more infrared energy in the atmosphere than occurs naturally. The additional heat further warms the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.

      

AMPLIFIED GREENHOUSE EFFECT:

Source: Koshland Science Museumhttp://www.koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitgcc/greenhouse01.jsp

• Increased greenhouse gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere my result in more infrared energy (heat) being trapped

• This may cause the Earth’s surface and atmosphere to become warmer

• A warmer Earth could mean an increase in glacial melting and warmer ocean temperatures

• As water becomes warmer, it expands taking up more space. This phenomenon is called thermal expansion

• Thermal expansion of ocean water + increase of water in the oceans due to glacial melting = rising sea level.

Increased Greenhouse Gases’ possibleIncreased Greenhouse Gases’ possibleImpact on Global Sea LevelImpact on Global Sea Level

*Local sea level change is also effected by changes in land elevation through faulting, subsidence, and shoreline erosion.

Relative Sea Level RiseRelative Sea Level Rise

Global Sea Level RiseGlobal Sea Level Rise

From IPCC 4th assessment reportArtale et al., 2007

Present Present Sea LevelSea Level

Corpus Christi Bay

1-m Sea 1-m Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

2-m Sea 2-m Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

3-m Sea 3-m Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

4-m Sea 4-m Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

5-m Sea 5-m Sea Level RiseLevel Rise

Areas Areas Vulnerable to Vulnerable to Sea-level Rise Sea-level Rise on the Texas on the Texas

CoastCoast

Source: EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Global Impact of Sea-Level RiseGlobal Impact of Sea-Level Rise

Sea-Level Rise (m) Population Affected (millions)

1 107.94

2 175.10

3 233.99

4 308.08

5 376.26

From Rowley, Kostelnick, Braaten, Li, and Meisel, 2007, EOS

Today

After 60 Years of Sea-Level Rise and Erosion

Wetland Upland IslandCore

Wetland

Upland

ProtectiveRidge

Beach/Dune

Wetland Upland IslandCore

Wetland

Upland

ProtectiveRidge

UplandBeach/Dune

Bay Gulf

FutureWetland

Barrier Island Cross SectionBarrier Island Cross Section

FutureBeach/Dune

Mustang Mustang IslandIsland

InundationInundationby Year by Year

21002100

0m +0.46m +0.87m

Based onIPCC (2007) sea-level rise projections plus

local land subsidence estimate

Sea Level Changes and the Texas Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal Environment LessonCoastal Environment Lesson

• Read the information provided to you by your teacher.• View the video for a demonstration of navigating through

the model.• Explore the model on your own to familiarize yourself

with navigating and using the data in the model. Also use this time to familiarize yourself with the geography of the Gulf of Mexico and the Texas Coast.

• Answer the questions in the lesson.

http://coastal.beg.utexas.edu/thscmp/index.html