Special Magazine Report Examines Sea Level Rise and Coastal Hazards

Maryland Sea Grant

Along much of the Mid-Atlantic coast, sea levels are rising faster than the global average. This trend has already been linked to intensifying storm surges, shoreline erosion, and the loss of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay region. To educate residents of Maryland about the impacts of sea level rise and climate change in the Chesapeake region, Maryland Sea Grant formed a unique partnership with the regional news magazine, Bay Journal. This partnership resulted in a special issue of Maryland Sea Grant’s magazine, Chesapeake Quarterly, that was published in October 2014 and titled “Come High Water: Sea Level Rise and Chesapeake Bay.”

The issue included 15 feature articles, as well as several online videos and photo slideshows, planned and developed for a general audience by staff at Maryland Sea Grant and the Bay Journal. Published in print and online by both organizations, these stories take a holistic approach to communicating about sea level rise on Chesapeake Bay — exploring, among other topics, research about the causes, both locally and globally; the disappearance of islands in the estuary; and the impacts of rising waters on communities located at low elevations. The depth and breadth of this special report provides an excellent primer for educators, interested citizens, and others to learn about how climate change affects the Chesapeake region.