Year: 2018
Project(s):
Relevance
Understanding elevation of coastal habitat and sea level is critical to understanding sea-level rise impacts. Access to baseline water level and habitat elevation data and tracking trends in the system over time provides insight for managing natural environments. However, a variety of owners manage these observing installations, making it difficult to gain a holistic understanding of current data coverage and any critical gaps.
Response
The Northern Gulf of Mexico Sentinel Site Cooperative (a Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported program) inventoried Surface Elevation Tables (SETs) and Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) across the Gulf and conducted a gap analysis of SET locations. Stakeholders were integrated throughout both efforts, resulting in a geospatial analysis highlighting areas to efficiently address gaps in SET coverage; an understanding of existing CORS, regardless of operator; a report identifying gaps and opportunities between CORS and tide stations; and online access to developed materials.
Results
The SET inventory was downloaded 20 times, included in five public data galleries and bookmarked by two users. The gap analysis has been used to validate use of funding and resources. The CORS inventory and analysis was to save time and effort, increasing ability to focus on other more critical things. More than six partners used the CORS inventory to understand the available information, enhance networks and improve data access.
Recap
Inventories and gap analyses of sea-level rise observing infrastructure improved comprehensive access to data critical for describing and understanding sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico. (2018)