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Sea Grant Studies Addressing Sea Level Rise, Blue Economy Risk Assessment, and Carbon Sequestration

An economic evaluation of adaptation pathways in coastal mega cities: An illustration for Los Angeles

de Ruig L.T., Barnard P.L., Botzen W.W., Grifman P. (USC SG), Hart J.F., de Moel H., Sadrpour N. (USC SG) and Aerts J.C.

Science of the Total Environment, Published August 15, 2019

Uncertainty in sea level rise projections poses a major challenge to flood risk management and adaptation investments in coastal mega cities. This study uses Los Angeles County to demonstrate a new comparative economic evaluation method for flood adaptation measures. Adaptation pathways such as this can be used to better inform decision makers about the robustness and economic desirability of their investment choices.

Integrated risk assessment for the blue economy

Hodgson E.E., Essington T.E., Samhouri J.F., Allison E.H., Bennett N.J., Bostrom A., Cullen A.C., Kasperski S., Levin P.S. and Poe M.R. (WA SG)

Frontiers in Marine Science, Published September 26, 2019

With the anticipated boom in the ‘blue economy’ and associated increases in industrialization across the world’s oceans, new and complex risks are being introduced to ocean ecosystems. This publication provides a primer on risk assessment intended to encourage the development and implementation of integrated risk assessment processes in the emerging blue economy. Using a case study of the management challenges of whale entanglements in fishing gear on the United States west coast, this study demonstrates how transdisciplinary integrated risk assessments can better address complex environmental problems.

Factors influencing blue carbon accumulation across a 32‐year chronosequence of created coastal marshes

Abbott K.M., Elsey‐Quirk T. and DeLaune R.D.

Ecosphere, Published August 1, 2019

Widespread loss and degradation of marshes due to anthropogenic and climatic changes affect their ability to function as blue carbon sinks, both through the loss of area and through alterations in biogeochemical processes. This publication identifies marsh species that may facilitate higher longer-term carbon accumulation in created marshes with the intention of informing future restoration project planning and mitigation of climate change.

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