U.S. Coastal Cities’ Compound Flooding Risk Increasing

A new study shows that combined flooding risk for U.S. coastal cities is on the rise, according to a Wired article. Combined flooding occurs when heavy rainfall and storm-fueled sea level rise happen at the same time.

Led by scientists at the University of South Florida, researchers used statistical tools to locate extreme highs in tide and rainfall records in 30 coastal cities involved in the study. Then, they measured how often both occurred simultaneously. The researchers found that most cities occasionally experienced storm surges and heavy rainfall at the same time. Other cities experienced one or the other.

Although the scientists are hesitant to attribute combined flooding risks to climate change, they are interested in using their findings to help provide solutions to improve the country’s infrastructure and flooding preparedness.