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Analysis of non-linear inundation from sea-level rise using LIDAR data: a case study for South Florida

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Abstract

By analyzing a digital elevation model (DEM) derived from airborne light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data and airborne height finder measurements, this study demonstrates that a 1.5 m sea-level rise by 2100 would cause inundation of large areas of Miami-Dade County, southern Broward County, and Everglades National Park. Inundation processes are non-linear: inundation is gradual before reaching a threshold, and speeds up rapidly afterwards due to the regional topography. Accelerated sea-level rise will cause the threshold to be reached sooner by amplifying the non-linear inundation, and must be considered in policy-making. Comparison of inundated areas extracted from 30 m LIDAR and USGS DEMs indicates that the vertical accuracy of a DEM has a great effect on delineation of inundation areas. For a 1.5 m sea-level rise, the inundated area delineated by USGS DEM for Broward County is 1.65 times greater than that indicated by the LIDAR DEM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environment & International Hurricane Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Keqi Zhang

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  1. Keqi Zhang
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Correspondence to Keqi Zhang.

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Zhang, K. Analysis of non-linear inundation from sea-level rise using LIDAR data: a case study for South Florida. Climatic Change 106, 537–565 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9987-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9987-2

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