In coming years, high-amenity and urban-adjacent rural areas that comprise North Carolinas coastal region are likely to continue to be competitive in a global economy, while more remote rural places may require additional investment to thrive. Morss, R. E., O. V. Wilhelmi, G. A. Meehl, and L. Dilling, 2011: Improving societal outcomes of extreme weather in a changing climate: An integrated perspective. New data lends scope to flooding devastation.. There is very high confidence that southeastern cities will likely be impacted by climate change, especially in the areas of infrastructure and human health. Lafayette, LA. As a result, MARTA has begun to identify vulnerable assets and prioritize improvements to develop a more resilient system.44. WebIn the Coastal Plains region of Texas there are many job opportunities. Governor declares state of emergency as Hurricane Irma's forecast path shifts.. Florida House of Representatives, 2018: Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness Final Report. 7: Ecosystems, Figure 7.4).179 Some problematic invasive species are expected to be favored by changing winters. Center for Progressive Reform, Washington, DC, 43 pp. Mayor's Office, Charleston, SC, 17 pp. Barbier, E. B., S. D. Hacker, C. Kennedy, E. W. Koch, A. C. Stier, and B. R. Silliman, 2011: The value of estuarine and coastal ecosystem services. This includes impacts on infrastructure41,42,43,291,292,293 and human health.30,31,38,294 Increases in climate-related impacts have already been observed in some Southeast metropolitan areas (e.g., Habeeb et al. Roughly 52,000 residents applied for disaster relief, and 160,000 homes sustained some type of damage. Ellison, A. M., M. S. Bank, B. D. Clinton, E. A. Colburn, K. Elliott, C. R. Ford, D. R. Foster, B. D. Kloeppel, J. D. Knoepp, G. M. Lovett, J. Mohan, D. A. Orwig, N. L. Rodenhouse, W. V. Sobczak, K. A. Stinson, J. K. Stone, C. M. Swan, J. Thompson, B. High rainfall totals were experienced in many impacted areas, with Fort Pierce, Florida, receiving the highest rainfall of more than 21.5 inches100 and the Florida Keys receiving 12 inches of rain.84,102 Flooding occurred on most rivers in northern Florida and in many rivers in both Georgia and South Carolina to the point that rescues were required. Yando, E. S., M. J. Osland, J. M. Willis, R. H. Day, K. W. Krauss, and M. W. Hester, 2016: Salt marsh-mangrove ecotones: Using structural gradients to investigate the effects of woody plant encroachment on plantsoil interactions and ecosystem carbon pools. Rural America is comprised of three distinct areas: (1) high-amenity rural regions, (2) urban- adjacent rural places, and (3) remote rural communities.2 It is the last that has typically struggled, while rural areas with high amenities and access to urban labor markets generally experience greater population and economic growth than their remote counterparts. Between 2010 and 2016, more rural hospitals closed in the Southeast than any other region, with Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee being among the top five states for hospital closures.289 This strain, when combined with negative health impacts from climate change stressors (such as additional patient demand due to extreme heat and vector-borne diseases and greater flood risk from extreme precipitation events), increases the potential for disruptions of health services in the future. Climate change is expected to intensify the hydrologic cycle and increase the frequency and severity of extreme events like drought and heavy rainfall. Salary Search: Veterinary Assistant/Technician salaries in El Campo, TX. Guo, H., C. Weaver, S. P. Charles, A. Whitt, S. Dastidar, P. D'Odorico, J. D. Fuentes, J. S. Kominoski, A. R. Armitage, and S. C. Pennings, 2017: Coastal regime shifts: Rapid responses of coastal wetlands to changes in mangrove cover. USGS Professional Paper 1828. Changing winter temperature extremes, wildfire patterns, sea levels, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and warming ocean temperatures are expected to redistribute species and greatly modify ecosystems (very likely, high confidence). However, the impacts to coral reef ecosystems in the region have been and are expected to be particularly dire. B. Claydon, T. L. Metz, A. L. Gordon, A. M. Landry, D. J. Shaver, J. Blumenthal, L. Collyer, B. J. Godley, A. McGowan, M. J. Witt, C. L. Campbell, C. J. Lagueux, T. L. Bethel, and L. Kenyon, 2017: Ecological regime shift drives declining growth rates of sea turtles throughout the West Atlantic. Gray, R. Hardy, B. Brost, M. Bresette, J. C. Gorham, S. Connett, B. V. S. Crouchley, M. Dawson, D. Hayes, C. E. Diez, R. P. van Dam, S. Willis, M. Nava, K. M. Hart, M. S. Cherkiss, A. G. Crowder, C. Pollock, Z. Hillis-Starr, F. A. Muoz Tenera, R. Herrera-Pavn, V. Labrada-Martagn, A. Lorences, A. Negrete-Philippe, M. M. Lamont, A. M. Foley, R. Bailey, R. R. Carthy, R. Scarpino, E. McMichael, J. There is high confidence that increases in temperature are very likely to increase heat-related illness, deaths, and loss of labor productivity without greater adaptation efforts. EPA, 2015: Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 518 pp. Climate.gov, . National Hurricane Center, 111 pp. Mount Pleasant, located on South Carolinas coast, received 26.88 inches of rain, which is an extremely rare event. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005: Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis. Parker, L. E., and J. T. Abatzoglou, 2016: Projected changes in cold hardiness zones and suitable overwinter ranges of perennial crops over the United States. 20: U.S. Caribbean).33,34 The Southeast is also the region with the greatest projected increase in cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease under both a lower and higher scenario (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5).35,36, Poor air quality directly impacts human health, resulting in respiratory disease and other ailments. In fact, the economic structures of rural places increasingly mirror their urban counterparts. The scope and scale of adaptation efforts, which are already underway, will affect future vulnerability and risk. Marine transportation can be impacted as well. Upper Coastal Plain Photo by Jane Harrison. Books, 2003: Modeling mangrove forest migration along the southwest coast of Florida under climate change. Multimodel averages of climate model simulations (CMIP3 [SRES A2] and CMIP5 [RCP8.5] higher scenarios) show that there is a greater risk of drier summers by the middle of the century in the western portion of the Southeast and in southern Florida, while wetter fall seasons are more likely in the eastern portion of the region.257. Mitchum, G. T., 2011: Sea Level Changes in the Southeastern United States: Past, Present and Future. Regional economic integration depends upon robust market relationships and communications between rural and urban areas. Oswalt, S. N., W. B. Smith, P. D. Miles, and S. A. Pugh, 2014: Forest Resources of the United States, 2012: A technical document supporting the Forest Service 2010 update of the RPA Assessment. There are still gaps in knowledge regarding the potential effects of climate change on cities across the Southeast. NOAA Tech Memo OAR CPO-1. This is the only watershed-level hazard mitigation collaboration of this kind happening in the state and has the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, and the Louisiana Office of Community Development.96, Many communities in the Southeast also participate in FEMAs Community Rating System (CRS) program, which provides reduced flood insurance premiums to communities that go above and beyond the minimum National Flood Insurance Program regulation standards.97 Many communities require a safety factor, also known as freeboard, expressed as feet above the base flood elevation, for construction in special flood hazard areas. Island Press, Washington, DC,. February 20. Office of the Governor, Atlanta, GA. September 6. Why do some coastal rural countries thrive while others struggle? Emrich, C. T., D. P. Morath, G. C. Bowser, and R. Reeves, 2014: Climate-sensitive hazards in Florida: Identifying and prioritizing threats to build resilience against climate effects. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, 111 pp. Shaffer, J., A. Bennett, and A. Bylythe, 2017: NC governor declares state of emergency ahead of powerful Hurricane Irma: Get ready.. The combined effects of changing extreme rainfall events and sea level rise are already increasing flood frequencies, which impacts property values and infrastructure viability, particularly in coastal cities. In the Southeast, over 56% of land remains rural (nonmetropolitan) and home to approximately 16 million people, or about 17% percent of the regions population.250 These rural areas are important to the social and economic well-being of the Southeast. Mercer, D. E., J. P. Prestemon, D. T. Butry, and J. M. Pye, 2007: Evaluating alternative prescribed burning policies to reduce net economic damages from wildfire. The Atlantic Plain of the United States includes portions of the coastal states of Delaware, Costanza, J., S. Beck, M. Pyne, A. Terando, M. J. Rubino, R. White, and Jaime Collazo, 2016: Assessing climate-sensitive ecosystems in the Southeastern United States. Williams, J. W., B. N. Shuman, T. Webb, P. J. Bartlein, and P. L. Leduc, 2004: Late-quaternary vegetation dynamics in North America: Scaling from taxa to biomes. NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9. 10: Ag & Rural, KM 3). However, these models do not account for adaptations that may reduce estimated losses.35,64 By the end of the century, mean annual electricity costs are estimated at $3.3 billion each year under RCP8.5 (model range: $2.4 to $4.2 billion; in 2015 dollars, undiscounted) and mean $1.2 billion each year under RCP4.5 (model range $0.9 to $1.9 billion; in 2015 dollars, undiscounted).35, Rural communities tend to be vulnerable due to factors such as demography, occupations, earnings, literacy, and poverty incidence.8,9,10,250,283,284,305 Reducing the stress created by such factors can improve resilience.9,284 The availability and accessibility of planning and health services to support coping with climate-related stresses are limited in the rural Southeast.288,289. Based on the subsequent authors meeting and input from NCA staff, the chapter outline and Key Messages were updated to reflect a risk-based framing in the context of a new set of Key Messages. Infrastructure related to drinking water and wastewater treatment also has the potential to be compromised by climate-related events. Dorcas, M. E., J. D. Willson, R. N. Reed, R. W. Snow, M. R. Rochford, M. A. Miller, W. E. Meshaka, P. T. Andreadis, F. J. Mazzotti, C. M. Romagosa, and K. M. Hart, 2012: Severe mammal declines coincide with proliferation of invasive Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park. The ability to cope with current and potential impacts, such as flooding, is further reduced by limited county resources. Le Bras, A. Lemonsu, N. Long, M. P. Moine, T. Morel, L. Nolorgues, G. Pigeon, J. L. Salagnac, V. Vigui, and K. Zibouche, 2014: Adapting cities to climate change: A systemic modelling approach. Persistent rural poverty stands out in the Southeast (Figure 19.22). The Southeast includes vast expanses of coastal and inland low-lying areas, the southern portion of the Appalachian Mountains, numerous high-growth metropolitan areas, and large rural expanses. Lal, P., J. R. R. Alavalapati, and E. D. Mercer, 2011: Socio-economic impacts of climate change on rural United States. certainty in Key Findings. 17: Southeast and the Caribbean. The main crosstown traffic artery in Charleston, South Carolina (U.S. 17 Septima Clark Parkwaycrosstown), has historically been susceptible to flooding events (Figure 19.9). Climate change thus acts to increase the vulnerability of this plant to the existing stressors. Zervas, C., 2009: Sea level variations of the United States 1854-2006. Hughes, T. P., A. H. Baird, D. R. Bellwood, M. Card, S. R. Connolly, C. Folke, R. Grosberg, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, J. U.S. Census Bureau, , accessed May 17. Hoegh-Guldberg, O., P. J. Mumby, A. J. Hooten, R. S. Steneck, P. Greenfield, E. Gomez, C. D. Harvell, P. F. Sale, A. J. Edwards, K. Caldeira, N. Knowlton, C. M. Eakin, R. Iglesias-Prieto, N. Muthiga, R. H. Bradbury, A. Dubi, and M. E. Hatziolos, 2007: Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification. 10: Ag & Rural, KM 4).8,9,10 Reducing stress associated with these factors can increase household and community resilience.9,284. Allen, C. D., D. D. Breshears, and N. G. McDowell, 2015: On underestimation of global vulnerability to tree mortality and forest die-off from hotter drought in the Anthropocene. What is the industries of the coastal plains? USDA, National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), Washington, DC, accessed July 18, 2017. Kopp, R. E., A. C. Kemp, K. Bittermann, B. P. Horton, J. P. Donnelly, W. R. Gehrels, C. C. Hay, J. X. Mitrovica, E. D. Morrow, and S. Rahmstorf, 2016: Temperature-driven global sea-level variability in the Common Era. These perigean tides, also known as king tides, occur twice a year and in many cities are causing what has been called nuisance or recurrent flooding (referred to herein as high tide flooding). Jackson, S. T., R. S. Webb, K. H. Anderson, J. T. Overpeck, T. Webb III, J. W. Williams, and B. C. S. Hansen, 2000: Vegetation and environment in Eastern North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. The following correlation chart illustrates the relation between North Carolina coastal plain aquifers, geologic time above fractured bedrock can improve yields to 200 gallons per minute or more. In the southern Appalachians, ramps are threatened by two major processes: overharvesting pressures and a changing climate that could expose these plants to higher temperatures and lower soil moisture conditions during sensitive growth periods (Ch. Hsiang, S., R. Kopp, A. Jina, J. Ecosystems in the Southeast span the transition zone between tropical and temperate climates. Kovach, M. M., C. E. Konrad, and C. M. Fuhrmann, 2015: Area-level risk factors for heat-related illness in rural and urban locations across North Carolina, USA. NRCS, 2017: Plant profile: Allium tricoccum Aiton ramp. 13: Air Quality, KM 3). 743808. Cangialosi, J. P., A. S. Latto, and R. Berg, 2018: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017), 30 August-12 September 2017. Morin, C. W., A. C. Comrie, and K. Ernst, 2013: Climate and dengue transmission: Evidence and implications. - Products: Tobacco products, informational technology. WebProducts of the Coastal Plain (Tidewater) region: Seafood: Valley and Ridge's industry: Farming: Appalachian Plateau's major industry: Coal mining: Blue Ridge region's One of the big industries in the Coastal Plains is forestry. Gandhi, K. J. K., and D. A. Herms, 2010: Direct and indirect effects of alien insect herbivores on ecological processes and interactions in forests of eastern North America. Percentage Change in Population of Non-Metropolitan Coastal Counties, 2010-2017. The Southeast contains many of the fastest-growing urban areas in the country, including a dozen of the top 20 fastest-growing metropolitan areas (by percentage) in 2016.22 Metropolitan Atlanta has been swiftly growing, adding 69,200 residents in just one year.23 At the same time, many rural counties in the South are losing population.24 These trends towards a more urbanized and dense Southeast are expected to continue, creating new climate vulnerabilities but also opportunities to adapt as capacity and resources increase in cities (Ch. Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA, 64 pp. B. ), medium consensus, Suggestive evidence (a few sources, limited consistency, models incomplete, methods emerging, etc. Email Fraud Information Capital consists of the monetary resources available to invest in a business or to purchase goods. Forest cover ranges from almost 50% to 80% in these states, creating large areas of interface between populations and forests.262 Jobs in timber, logging, and support for agriculture and forestry totaled approximately 458,000.263 (See Ch. When this happens, corals lose their color and die in a process known as coral bleaching (Ch. Washington, DC, 97 pp. These beaches and bayous, fields and forests, and cities and small towns are all at risk from a changing climate. These factors restrict the potential to strongly associate declines in agricultural and forest productivity with the level of potential economic impact. The Coastal Plains - The Regions of Texas doi: Doyle, T. W., G. F. Girod, and M. A. Plants collected from the wild may become less available as the ideal conditions for their growth shift to other areas (see Case Study Mountain Ramps). The prolonged inundation and lack of oxygen that results from extreme rainfall can also result in mortality, such as the dieback of critical foundation plant species, and other large impacts to natural systems.233 In combination, future increases in the frequency and severity of both extreme drought and extreme rainfall are expected to transform many ecosystems in the Southeast region. Climate model simulations of future conditions project increases in temperature and extreme precipitation for both lower and higher scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5; see Figure 19.5).13,19 After the middle of the 21st century, however, the projected increases are lower for the lower scenario (RCP4.5). Lewis, C., 2012: The case of the wild onions: The impact of ramps on Cherokee rights. Ernst, K. M., and B. L. Preston, 2017: Adaptation opportunities and constraints in coupled systems: Evidence from the U.S. energy-water nexus. Over the past 50 years, the resultant gross damage and lost wages have totaled more than $1.53 billion (dollar year not specified). Technical Report 02-15. Rural communities are integral to the Southeasts cultural heritage and to the strong agricultural and forest products industries across the region. FHWA, 2017: FHWA Climate Resilience Pilot Program: Tennessee Department of Transportation. Copy. Couvillion, B. R., H. Beck, D. Schoolmaster, and M. Fischer, 2017: Land area change in coastal Louisiana (1932 to 2016). Coral reefs are biologically diverse ecosystems that provide many societal benefits, including coastal protection from waves, habitat for fish, and recreational and tourism opportunities.238,239 However, coral reef mortality in the Florida Keys and across the globe has been very high in recent decades, due in part to warming ocean temperatures, nutrient enrichment, overfishing, and coastal development.240,241,242,243,244 Small increases in ocean temperature can cause corals to expel the symbiotic algae upon which they depend for nourishment. Wahl, T., S. Jain, J. Bender, S. D. Meyers, and M. E. Luther, 2015: Increasing risk of compound flooding from storm surge and rainfall for major US cities. Houser, T., S. Hsiang, R. Kopp, K. Larsen, M. Delgado, A. Jina, M. Mastrandrea, S. Mohan, R. Muir-Wood, D. J. Rasmussen, J. For example, certain insect species, including mosquitoes and tree-damaging beetles, are expected to move northward in response to climate change, which could affect human health and timber supplies.30,144,166,167,168,169,170,171,172 And some bird species, including certain ducks, are not expected to migrate as far south in response to milder winters,173 which could affect birding and hunting recreational opportunities. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, DC, 2 pp. Economic Activity 1 Industries found in the Coastal Plains include processing, manufacturing and marketing products, mainly seafood and wood. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 37 pp. Technological developments (such as a potential shift in transportation modes) will also affect the scope and location of risk within cities. Natural amenities, like attractive scenery and recreational opportunities, draw people to rural areas and have boosted the wealth of many waterfront communities. 2: Temperature-related death and illness. Park, 2014: From the extreme to the mean: Acceleration and tipping points of coastal inundation from sea level rise.