Sea Level Rise Inundation Modeling Using Stormwater Infrastructure, in Norfolk Virginia

Abstract

Sea level rise due to climate change is accelerating globally. Portions of the east coast of the United States, including the city of Norfolk, Virginia, see rising sees at almost three times the global rate. Sea level rise exacerbates nuisance flooding, also referred to as sunny-day high tide flooding, the cumulative effects of which can end up making more of an impact over time than the less likely extreme event. One of the main approaches to modeling sea level rise inundation is the bathtub approach, which involves elevation values, tidal variability, and hydrological connectivity. What this model and others do not include is engineered infrastructure, such as stormwater culverts, ditches, and pipes. This infrastructure may affect the hydrological connectivity of cities, changing inundation patterns as sea levels rise. This study aims to show that including stormwater infrastructure in the inundation model improves the accuracy of inundation modeling at low levels of sea-level rise, specifically in Norfolk, Virginia.