Flooding In Eastern Maryland
Climate models project rising sea level during the 21st century due to greenhouse warming. Sea level is not expected to rise as much as shown here by the year 2100, but it will likely be rising for centuries to come, especially as polar ice melts. Much of eastern Maryland is low-lying, leaving vast areas vulnerable to flooding.
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Flooding in Eastern Maryland
If sea level rises, then coastal land may be flooded. As seen in this map of the Eastern Maryland, low-lying areas less than 1.5 meters above sea level are shown in red. This is the land most vulnerable to flooding. Land between 1.5 and 3.5 meters above sea level is shown in blue and land above 3.5 meters in green. (Image adapted from the Environmental Protection Agency) |
Natural processes might reduce the impact in some areas. If sea level rises slowly enough, plants that grow upward to remain above the water level might amass large root systems that trap enough sand and soil to prevent wholesale flooding of low-lying areas. However, these natural responses in regions such as eastern Maryland are not assured.
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