Sea Level Rise
The links on this page provide answers to questions about how much the sea has risen, how much it might rise, and what the impacts might be. Resources for overall climate change adaptation planning, including resources for adaptation options, planning frameworks and more, can be found on the Coastal Adaptation Toolkit page.
Change so far
Climate Change Indicators in the United States: Sea Level (EPA)
Global average sea level change from the EPA's Report on the Environment
Sea level from satellite radar altimeters: NOAA . NASA , AVISO , U. Colorado
Sea level trends at NOAA tide gauges (includes land movement)
Future sea level rise
Reports and projections
Global and Regional Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States
- Sea Level Rise Technical Report (February 2022) from the Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Hazard Scenarios and Tools Interagency Task Force
- Interagency Sea Level Rise Scenario Tool via NASA
USACE's Sea Level Analysis Tool is a user-friendly web application that enables users to visualize observed sea level data, compare observations to projected sea level change, and estimate when tidal and extreme water levels will intersect with elevation thresholds related to local infrastructure (e.g., roads, power generating facilities, dunes).
Map viewers and G.I.S.
NOAA's Sea Level Rise Viewer. Use this web mapping tool to visualize community-level impacts from coastal flooding or sea level rise (up to 10 feet above average high tides). Photo simulations of how future flooding might impact local landmarks are also provided, as well as data related to water depth, connectivity, flood frequency, socio-economic vulnerability, wetland loss and migration, and mapping confidence.
NOAA's Sea Level Calculator. Explore interactive data visualizations and maps about coastal inundation and sea level change. See how coastal flooding and sea levels have changed where you live, and use the latest projections to plan for the future.
A geospatial dataset that describes both the extent and depth of inundation in the United States and outlying territories under global scenarios of sea-level rise, is available through: Konfirst, M.A., Feinman, C. & Morefield, P.E. Sea-level rise projections tailored for spatial adaptation planning in the U.S.. Sci Data 13, 1053 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-06669-7
Surging Seas from Climate Central
What are the impacts?
Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region. SAP 4.1 (pdf), especially Parts I and II
Checklists of potential climate change risks (pdf)
Additional resources
Sea-level rise modeling handbook: Resource guide for coastal land managers, engineers, and scientists (2015) from USGS
Tools from NOAA's Digital Coast, select the "Filters" button then check "Sea Level Rise"