Understanding the Vulnerabilities of Southeastern Coastal Habitats to Climate Change Impacts - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative)

In this project, National Estuarine Research Reserves in North and South Carolina worked to improve local understanding of climate change effects on southeastern salt marsh and provide decision makers with the information and skills they need to address these vulnerabilities. North Carolina Reserve staff members were trained in the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Coastal Habitats (CCVATCH) by their colleagues from North Inlet-Winyah Bay Reserve. This decision support tool incorporates existing information on climate change impacts with knowledge of local conditions to help users develop vulnerability scores for specific areas. The project team used CCVATCH to conduct habitat vulnerability assessments for seven estuaries in North and South Carolina, summarized regional findings to help managers in the Southeast improve salt marsh resilience, and developed guidance and outreach products. This science transfer project was funded by NOAA through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative to promote the use of science. It did not produce any new data.

Climate change is having an impact on salt marshes in the southeastern US through sea level rise, air and water temperature increases, precipitation pattern changes, and an increase in storm event intensity. However, the degree and intensity of these impacts vary, depending on local environmental conditions. Understanding this variability is critical when making management decisions.

Loaded by FGDC Metadata Uploader, batch 10153, 10-31-2017 15:32

Jennifer Plunket

North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR, SC

jen@belle.baruch.sc.edu

(843) 904-9033

Partners:

North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR, SC

North Carolina NERR, NC

The distributor does not assume liability.

None

Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC).