Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Coastal communities are experiencing shoreline migration and storm surges that threaten businesses, homes, critical infrastructure, and lives. Many small island countries are threatened with massive or complete inundation. The threat from climate change is particularly strong to coastal communities in the Northeastern United States, because the landmass is sinking, the area has experienced a marked increase in severe coastal storms, and it is the most heavily populated shoreline in the United States.

Potential human responses to this increased coastal threat include: protection, accommodation, and retreat. Protection strategies include armoring potential coastal hazard zones with structures such as revetments and breakwaters or undertaking beach nourishment projects. Accommodation involves building hazard-resistant structures, elevating and floodproofing buildings and infrastructure, and creating floodable landscapes. Retreat involves the relocation of buildings and infrastructure to less vulnerable areas. Efforts to make communities less vulnerable and more resilient to the increased risks created by climate change will likely include a blend of these three approaches. Students interested in this research area will learn about the science of climate change and coastal processes, land-use and engineering responses, governmental responses, and the responses of individuals. Our graduates have found positions in federal and state coastal management programs, emergency management agencies, and private consulting firms.



Faculty

Professor & Chair of Marine Affairs and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Coastal Resilience

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.4192
abecker@uri.edu

Professor

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.5708
dbidwell@uri.edu

Professor

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.4045
rburroughs@uri.edu

Assistant Professor of International Development

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.2854
hiwasaki@uri.edu

Associate Professor, Joint Appontment

Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences

humphries@uri.edu

Associate Professor, Joint appointment

Department of Marine Affairs; Political Science

mendenhall@uri.edu

Associate Professor, Joint appointment

Department of Marine Affairs; Gender and Women's Studies

401.874.5107
ameliamoore@uri.edu

Professor Emeritus

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.4485
rob@uri.edu

Assistant Professor

Department of Marine Affairs

401.874.4820
jesse.reiblich@uri.edu

Research