Chapter 4 IMPACTS ON COASTAL WETLANDS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES

uncertainties inherent in making future projections, the major factors controlling wetland sea level responses can be modeled. This chapter considers possible coastal wetland responses to future sea level rise in the conterminous United States, in order to provide information needed to understand future threats to coastal resources during an anticipated period of unprecedented climatic change. Our primary objectives have been to interpret our present understanding of wetland adjustments to sea level rise in terms of a future acceleration of present sea level rise rates, and to outline a method for projecting future regional-level responses that could result from global warming. The research focuses on relatively large-scale spatial patterns as opposed to specific site responses. Therefore, local features often are subsumed within more widespread characteristics