SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION IN YAP PROPER, FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA

Abstract

Sea level rise (SLR) poses a significant threat to coastal communities, resulting in various impacts such as flooding, aquifer salinization, and coastal erosion. Small island nations, like Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, are particularly vulnerable due to their low elevation, isolated geographic location, and above-average rates of sea-level rise. Yap, being one of the four member states in free association with the United States, faces heightened risks, yet lacks localized SLR data, making it a critical area for study. This research aims to address this gap by employing ArcGIS to model areas in Yap that will be inundated under one meter of SLR, providing valuable insights and potential place-based solutions. The choice of one meter as the benchmark aligns with the IPCC AR6 projection of a sea-level rise of 0.6 to 1.1 meters by 2100 under the high emissions scenario (Fox-Kemper et al., 2023). The results of this project reveal the exposure of Yap's infrastructure: four pieces of critical infrastructure, nine government or non-governmental organization facilities, 16 businesses, 29 cultural sites, and 248 buildings or other structures are projected to be inundated under one meter of SLR. Notably, the mapping results highlight Colonia as the most vulnerable area in Yap. Colonia serves as the primary center for governance and commerce for the entire state, emphasizing the urgency of understanding and addressing the potential impacts of SLR in this critical location. This research not only sheds light on the exposure of Yap but also underscores the importance of localized data for effective climate resilience planning and policy development in vulnerable coastal regions.

Keywords: Sea level rise, coastal flooding, erosion, saltwater intrusion, adaptation, Yap, FSM.