Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal Environment Introduction to lesson used with “A Virtual Tour of Texas Gulf Coast Barrier Islands” 3D model Developed by a partnership between Bureau of Economic Geology The 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 Florida Cuba Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Mexico

Shoreline Length Gulf = 600 km Gulf = 600 km Shoreline between Sabine Pass – Louisiana/TX border and the Rio Grande - TX/Mexico border Bays = 9,400 km Shoreline surrounding all of the bays on TX coast (Galveston, Laguna Madre, etc.) Rio Grande Gulf of Mexico Sabine Pass Texas Galveston Bay Laguna Madre Mississippi River Delta

Increasing Carbon Dioxide Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Sources of Carbon Dioxide Source: Energy Information Administration You release CO 2 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 CO 2 emissions Transportation 32 % of CO 2 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 CO 2 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 Museum

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’ possible Impact 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 Rise Relative Sea Level Rise

Global Sea Level Rise From IPCC 4 th assessment report Artale et al., 2007

Present Sea Level Corpus Christi Bay

1-m Sea Level Rise

2-m Sea Level Rise

3-m Sea Level Rise

4-m Sea Level Rise

5-m Sea Level Rise

Areas Vulnerable to Sea-level Rise on the Texas Coast Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Global Impact of Sea-Level Rise Sea-Level Rise (m)Population Affected (millions) From Rowley, Kostelnick, Braaten, Li, and Meisel, 2007, EOS

Today After 60 Years of Sea-Level Rise and Erosion WetlandUpland Island Core Wetland Upland Protective Ridge Beach/ Dune WetlandUpland Island Core Wetland Upland Protective Ridge Upland Beach/ Dune BayGulf Future Wetland Barrier Island Cross Section Future Beach/Dune

Mustang Island Inundation by Year m+0.46m+0.87m Based on IPCC (2007) sea-level rise projections plus local land subsidence estimate

Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal 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.