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Coastal Vulnerability Assessment of National Park of American Samoa (NPSA) to Sea-Level Rise

Open-File Report 2005-1055
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051055

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Abstract

A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) was used to map the relative vulnerability of the coast to future sea-level rise within National Park of American Samoa. The CVI ranks the following in terms of their physical contribution to sea-level rise-related coastal change: geomorphology, regional coastal slope, rate of relative sea-level rise, historical shoreline change rates, mean tidal range and mean significant wave height. The rankings for each input variable were combined and an index value calculated for 500-meter grid cells covering the park. The CVI highlights those regions where the physical effects of sea-level rise might be the greatest. This approach combines the coastal system's susceptibility to change with its natural ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, yielding a quantitative, although relative, measure of the park's natural vulnerability to the effects of sea-level rise. The CVI provides an objective technique for evaluation and long-term planning by scientists and park managers. The National Park of American Samoa consists of carbonate sand and coral rubble beaches, rock cliffs and platforms, and back-reef lagoon shorelines. The areas within National Park of American Samoa that are likely to be most vulnerable to sea-level rise are areas of unconsolidated sediment where coastal slope is shallowest and wave energy is high.

Suggested Citation

Pendleton, E., Thieler, E.R., Williams, S.J., 2005, Coastal vulnerability assessment of National Park of American Samoa (NPSA) to sea-level rise: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1055, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051055.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

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Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Data Ranking System
  • The Dry Tortugas National Park
  • Methodology
  • Geologic Variables
  • Physical Process Variables
  • Coastal Vulnerability Index
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References
  • List of Figures
  • List of Tables
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Coastal vulnerability assessment of National Park of American Samoa (NPSA) to sea-level rise
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2005-1055
DOI 10.3133/ofr20051055
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description 29 p.
Country United States
Other Geospatial American Samoa, National Park of American Samoa
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details