Hazards from Sea Level Rise and their Impacts on Resources Utilization in the Yangtze River Deltaic Plain, China

Sea level rise will cause or exacerbate a series of coastal hazards during the 21st century. The Yangtze River deltaic plain, China will be the region most vulnerable to accelerating sea level rise, in this region, relative sea level may rise 38–66 cm by the year 2050, while the eustatic sea level rises 20–30 cm. Accelerating sea level rise will increase the probabilities of occurrence of storm surge and the intensity of salt water intrusion into the Yangtze River Estuary; exacerbate coastal erosion; impede the drainage of floodwater of coastal lowlands and inundate tidal flat and coastal wetlands. This paper focuses the discussion on exacerbated coastal hazards by sea level rise and their impacts on resources utilization (land, water and living resources) in the Yangtze River deltaic plain.