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CURRENT AND FUTURE EFFORTS TO STUDY SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS 

 The National Academy of Engineering's Marine Board plans 

 to assess the engineering implications of sea level rise. -*-2/ 

 Port and coastal structures are designed for lifetimes of 100 

 years and possibly longer. The Marine Board is interested 

 in determining whether the evidence of possible sea level rise 

 justifies designing structures to withstand such a rise. It 

 also intends to determine whether the existing network of tidal 

 gauge stations is sufficient to detect a C02~induced rise 

 in global sea level. EPA is working with the Delaware River 

 Basin Commission to determine the impact of sea level rise on 

 drinking water. Projects in Maryland, New Jersey, and New 

 York are being considered, and others are being sought. 13 / 



The prospect of sea level rise of the magnitude estimated 

 in this study is so new, however, that much more basic research 

 and study needs to be done on its effects, the methods for 

 estimating them, and on the economic importance of anticipating 

 the rise. 



A variety of academic and professional disciplines need to 

 define research and action agendas for understanding and 

 preparing for sea level rise. For example, planners should 

 review zoning standards and architects should review building 

 codes. Coastal geologists should develop better means of 

 projecting erosion. Paleo-sea-level researchers should consider 

 how their substantial body of knowledge can be used for 



