Impacts
Kaua‘i Climate Vulnerability & Equity Analysis Interactive Map
View the map on the Kaua‘i Open Data Hub by selecting the button below.
What is climate change?
Global air and ocean temperatures are rising and this is resulting in changes in local temperature, precipitation, winds, and sea level. According to the latest IPCC report, human influence has unequivocally contributed to warming of the atmosphere, ocean, and land by increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
While hazards such as heatwaves, droughts, tropical cyclones etc. occur naturally, they are projected (or are already observed) to be more intense and/or frequent due to climate change.
Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
What climate change impacts affect Kauaʻi?
While most community members experienced or remember the extreme flooding that occurred in 2018, 2019, and 2020, there are many other climate change impacts that will impact the island in the near and long term. The County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan (2020) assessed the natural hazards that may affect the island, which the CAP will further analyze during the Technical Analysis phase of the project.
Trigger Warning: images of flooding destruction.
Sea Level Rise,
Coastal Flood and Erosion
Sea levels are affected by factors including air and ocean temperature, hydrologic and oceanographic cycles, melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and storm frequency and intensity. Sea level rise (SLR) increases the risks coastal communities face from coastal hazards including floods, annual high waves, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Coupled with other climate change impacts, SLR can also lead to more frequent high surf events. The Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan assesses the risk of a 3.2-foot rise in sea level, where the area predicted to be inundated in future conditions is called the SLR-XA (3.2 feet). The Kaua`i General Plan requires the County to plan at least 3’ of sea level rise; and acknowledges that areas and developments with a low tolerance for risk should plan for 6’ of sea level rise.
Source: County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, 2020 Update
Tropical Cyclone
and Other High Winds
Tropical cyclones are a range of events classified by wind speed, from Tropical Depressions (<39 mph maximum sustained wind speed) to Category 5 Hurricanes (> 156 mph maximum sustained wind speed). In addition to wind, tropical cyclones bring the threat of storm surges and rainfall-caused flooding. The storm surge index record shows there is a significant positive trend between warmer years and extreme events. Some studies show that climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of storms in Hawai‘i and more tropical cyclones will track further north closer to Hawai`i.
Source: County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, 2020 Update
Extreme Rainfall
and Inland Flooding
Inland flooding is caused by overflowing rivers and streams or sheet flow due to heavy rainfall. With climate change’s impact on hydrologic patterns, high-frequency flood events (10-year floods) will likely increase and 100-year floods may strike more often than in the past. Sea level rise combined with these precipitation changes will likely result in expanded floodable areas, and significant drainage concerns.
Source: County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, 2020 Update
Extreme Heat and Drought
The Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan defines extreme heat as temperatures that hover 10 ºF or more above the average high temperature for the region, last for prolonged periods of time, and are often accompanied by high humidity. Drought is a period of abnormally dry weather. As the climate warms, droughts could become more frequent, more severe, and longer lasting. Rising temperatures can also negatively affect public health, as well as habitats for fish and wildlife.
Source: County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, 2020 Update
Wildfire
Wildfire is any uncontrolled fire on undeveloped land that requires fire suppression. Wildfire is a significant threat to humans and natural resources, particularly when it occurs in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) – areas where development is adjacent to densely vegetated areas. Climate change has the potential to intensify wildfire danger due to increased temperatures (which dries out vegetation) coupled with low precipitation or drought.
Source: County of Kauaʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Resilience Plan, 2020 Update
How does this Project work to reduce these impacts?
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