Effects of Sea‐Level Rise on Bays and Estuaries

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Abstract
The greenhouse effect and resulting increase in the earth's temperature may accelerate the mean sea‐level rise. The rise of sea level relative to land level is already significant at locations of extreme land subsidence such as coastal Louisiana. The state of the art of our understanding of the relative sea‐level rise and its effects on bays and estuaries is reviewed herein. Hydraulic processes, such as tidal range, prism and currents, salinity intrusion, and sedimentation, will be modified. The natural response of bays and estuaries to this rise will include changes in shoreline position, land flooding, and wetlands. The effects on engineering projects and facilities will vary widely according to the design life and site conditions. Management policies for dealing with the problems resulting from the relative sea‐level rise are also addressed.