Sea Level Rise Explorer

As coastal communities contend with sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and other impacts of climate change, public education has become a critical piece of the puzzle. Virtual Planet Technologies produces insightful and immersive experiences that communities can use to better understand the impacts of climate change and explore emerging adaptation solutions. Our team has a range of expertise from climate scientists, city planners, communications experts, filmmakers, 3D animators, and Unity (software) developers. In our Sea Level Rise Explorer, users interact with 3D models and can raise sea levels to observe potential flooding in real-time. Adaptation scenarios can also be displayed.

During strong El Niño years, sea levels in California can be almost a foot higher than normal. Severe coastal erosion is already causing parts of the pedestrian pathway along West Cliff drive to fall into the ocean. According to the United States Geological Survey, without extensive human intervention 67% of all sand beaches in California could disappear by 2100, (due to a combination of SLR and coastal erosion). By 2100, more than $1 billion of property and infrastructure will be at risk in Santa Cruz if the existing coastal armoring is not replaced by 2060.
Learn more at the Santa Cruz Resilient Coast website.