1st Regional Climate Assessment Update Since 1999-- Grim News

John Cornelison
November 5, 2013

Table of Contents

The Northwest faces poorer forest health (more forest fires), earlier snowmelt (lower stream flows) and raised sea levels (eroding coasts), according to Monday’s release of the Northwest Climate Assessment Report (NWCAR, 2013). Impacts might total some $14 billion dollars regionally.

Written by scientists coordinated by the Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, this report is the first regional climate assessment update since 1999. Produced as part of the U.S. National Climate Assessment; Washington and Oregon state-level reports were published in 2009 and 2010.

Various versions are available:

Two Page Summary (pdf, 745KB)
Executive Summary (pdf, 914KB)
Full Report (pdf, 4.1MB)
Purchase the hardcopy NWCAR book from Island Press

Some press coverage of this report can be found at:

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West Coast Ports Could Suffer from Alaska Tsunami

John Cornelison
9/5/13

While scientists can't predict when a great earthquake producing a pan-Pacific tsunami will occur, thanks to new tools being developed by federal and state officials, scientists can now offer more accurate insight into the likely impacts when tsunamis occur. This knowledge can lead officials and the public to reduce the risk of the future tsunamis that will impact the west coast.

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/images/2013_09_04/pola_polb.jpg

Maximum current speeds for the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB), according to the SAFRR Tsunami Scenario. In the POLA, currents are strongest at Angels Gate, the Cabrillo Marina, the Boat Yard, and the old Navy Yard. Once the tsunami event is underway, navigation through the Gate would be very dangerous. In the Cabrillo Marina and Boat Yard, currents are likely strong enough to break apart floating docks, damage piles, and pull small vessels from their mooring lines. The strongest currents are found in the old Navy Yard; however there are no exposed floating assets in this immediate area. At the POLB, again strong currents are found at the Gate. Also in the POLB, strong and jet-like currents are predicted at the entrance to the main cargo container area (Pier J). Currents here may be strong enough to damage, and possible break, mooring lines. Photo Credit: SAFRR Tsunami Scenario. (Larger image)