Slice of PI-CASC seminar

September 3, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics, Rm 210

"The influence of sea-level rise on coastal groundwater and resulting impacts on municipal infrastructure" with Dr. Shellie Habel, coastal geologist with the Climate Resilience Collaborative. Abstract: Sea-level rise (SLR) is impacting coastal groundwater by raising water tables and shifting salinity profiles inland, resulting in more corrosive subsurface conditions. Up to 1,546 low-lying coastal municipalities worldwide face various risks from these changes, which can occur decades before the occurrence of surface flooding. Damage is accumulating in infrastructure networks that lie partially or fully underground. Since this damage is largely hidden and not immediately evident, it is often overlooked in infrastructure management and planning. In this presentation, Dr. Shellie Habel will explore the effects of SLR on coastal groundwater, the associated threats to critical infrastructure, and the potential for urban contamination. It also highlights the University of Hawaiʻi Climate Resilience Collaborative’s progress in groundwater monitoring and modeling, multidisciplinary collaborations, and partnerships with agencies to incorporate these considerations into planning efforts.


Event Sponsor
HawaiÊ»i Sea Grant, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Rachel Lentz, (808) 956-8191, rlentz@hawaii.edu,

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