Data Scenarios & Assumptions
The Trustees and the Woods Hole Group, Inc. (WHG) utilized results from the Massachusetts Coast Flood Risk Model (MCFRM) to determine future projected chronic and storm-based flooding. MCFRM includes sea level rise (SLR) associated with the “high” projections as recommended by The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), MassDOT, and the University of Massachusetts and developed specifically for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Deconto and Kopp (2017). This :high” scenario of SLR assumes that global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continue in a similar fashion as today. By using these projections, the data presented herein are consistent with the Massachusetts coast-wide analysis conducted for MassDOT using the MCFRM, which was developed to encompass all risk levels and assess critical infrastructure. Read More→
Explore the Data
Explore the data used for this report, including graphs and downloadable excel sheets. Read More→
Coastal Impact Matrix
We are providing this chart so that communities can gauge their specific risks and vulnerabilities in relation to each other and the region as a whole. The chart includes climate-driven impacts—beach erosion, marsh loss, and flooding of buildings and roads—that are projected for 2050 from storms and sea level rise. The chart also shows rates of short- and long-term beach erosion, an impact that has already been experienced by most communities. Read More→
Citations & Sources
Data used in this report came from a variety of sources. Metrics such as marsh transitions, number of buildings flooded, or miles of roads impacted are based on assessments of model results done by The Trustees as part of this report. The models used are state-of-the-art, but models are based on a number of assumptions and various input conditions that come with inherent limitations. The Trustees used publicly available data for other metrics, including beach erosion rates, tidal restrictions, or miles of armored shoreline. Read More→