Challenges of sea level rise

Sea level rise is one of the most pressing concerns for coastal communities in the world today. It does not respect borders, and the effects of sea level rise will vary depending on location and the natural terrain of the area in question. In some cities around the world, sea level rise will only become a slight nuisance, but in others it can lead to disaster. In the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a predicted 15 to 55 feet of sea level rise, putting not only billions of dollars at risk, but threatening the very way of day-to-day life occurring in the region (EPA, 2016). This thesis is going to explore the regional challenges faced in the Bay Area. It will also provide case studies of what is at risk in the area by presenting cases on different, but interconnected parts of infrastructure that make the San Francisco Bay Area the 19th largest economy in the world. This paper will also assess what can be done to protect these assets.