This investigation is focused on Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Kwajalein is a large (maximum width approximately 100 kilometers) atoll system with a large, deep lagoon and large islets that support freshwater lenses. The investigation focuses on the interaction between sea level, wave-driven inundation, and the atoll islets’ freshwater lenses; the study includes field data collection for validation and calibration of numerical oceanographic and hydrogeologic models of wave-driven inundation and groundwater dynamics, respectively. Once the models are shown to accurately portray past and present conditions at Kwajalein Atoll, we will conduct predictive modeling of sea-level rise and climatic impacts to infrastructure and freshwater availability based on sea-level rise projections and global climate model (GCM) wind, wave, and precipitation output.
In Year 1, we have successfully initiated Tasks 1-3 as planned, displayed below. Click a Task bubble below, to see examples of methods, instrumentation, and progress.
