Recent storms and a tsunami (11 March 2011) have underscored the intrinsic potential for sea-level rise to damage wildlife populations and ecosystems of the low-lying Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). The goal of this study is to provide maps of wave impact and storm-induced inundation levels for islands of high conservation value. Vulnerability will be assessed for Midway Atoll and Laysan Island using historical data and new high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for a variety of sea-level rise scenarios. Research to date forecasts sea-level rise with only passive flooding scenarios, and until now, was limited by a lack of topography data for Hawaii’s remote atolls. Predicting impacts of flooding and storm-induced waves is needed to develop climate-change adaptation plans for the biological communities and resident endangered species. This information is also needed for managers to understand risks and determine emergency responses for the range of parameters where natural, historical, and cultural resources and remotely stationed personnel may be threatened from sea-level rise and storm-induced waves.
