Sea-Level Rise Literacy and Perceived Risk in Eastern North Carolina

Alyssa Randall
Department of Geography
East Carolina University

Abstract
This study investigates sea-level rise literacy and perception of risk

among coastal and inland residents of Eastern North Carolina through

surveying residents and teachers in four locales in eastern North
Carolina: Nags Head, Wilmington, Greenville/ Pitt County, and Duplin
County (Appendix A). The specific objectives of the survey are 1) to
compare inland and coastal residents views on public policy and
mitigation efforts and 2) to analyze how factors such as age, gender,
education, income, and residency influence sea-level rise literacy, risk
perception, and funding options. Using a convenience sampling
method, approximately 200 surveys were distributed to residents
across the four locales. The data was then collected and trends and
correlations were identified using IBM SPSS statistical software. It is
intended that the findings from this research will result in a series of
recommendations for designing programs that aim to raise awareness
about sea-level rise and may also be used to assist policy makers and
town planners in formulating public education programs and mitigation
plans for the future.
Introduction
Sea-level rise is an emerging environmental transformation to
which eastern North Carolina is highly vulnerable. The Albemarle and
Pamlico Sound region has already been identified as one of the top
three most threatened areas from sea-level rise in the United States.
While a great deal of research has been done on global climate change
and sea-level rise, less research has investigated how people

understand the phenomenon and perceive its potential effects. Yet, an

understanding of residents awareness and understanding of
environmental transformations such as sea-level rise is critical to
formulating effective education, policy, and adaptation and mitigation
plans. Surveying in coastal and inland counties, has allowed us to
gauge residents understanding of sea-level rise and make appropriate
recommendations to aid in education, policy and mitigation
construction and reform. The layout of this paper is as follows: a brief
look at the background of sea-level rise, a more in-depth look at how
sea-level rise is affecting eastern North Carolina, an explanation of sealevel rise literacy and risk perceptions and how these topics relate to
other scientific studies, the specific methods used to carry out this
research, the result and data analysis, and finally a brief
summarization and conclusion of the findings.
Background:
Changes in sea-level, both rise and fall have been recorded for
several millions of years (Barber et al. 2008). Sea-level rise began
15,000 years ago as ice sheets began to recede. Between then and
the most recent cycle of sea-level change, we have seen both phases
of rise and fall (Patterson, 2009). However, present sea-level rise rates
suggest that we have a bigger problem on our hands than just a typical
historic phase or cycle. Tide and current data from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that sea-level rise is

occurring along the entire Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts of the
United States (NOAA, 2012). Scientists target global climate change as
the key cause of the accelerated global sea-level rise that we are
presently experiencing. While local mean sea-level might be falling in
some areas, overall, eustatic sea-level is rising. Research concludes
that changes in our global climate are directly related to changes in
sea-level (Justus et al, 2006).
Anthropogenic climate change involves human activities that
affect the heat and energy exchange balance between Earth, the
atmosphere and space. Activities such as burning fossil fuels increase
the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
such as methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor. These gases
block infrared radiation from being able to be reflected and absorbed
back into space, causing a warming of our atmosphere (Justus et al,
2006). When infrared radiation comes in contact with greenhouses
gases, there is a change in molecular bonds that causes vibrations.
These vibrations are the absorption of infrared energy, which produces
kinetic energy that can be transferred and causes a general heating of
the atmosphere (Justus et al, 2006). This trapping of heat is referred to
as the greenhouse effect. It is estimated that carbon dioxide and
methane have been responsible for the increase of infrared radiation
remaining within our atmosphere. Within the past 100 years, Earth has
seen a global atmospheric temperature rise of 0.3 to 0.6C (Barber et

al, 2008). Specifically, over the North Atlantic Ocean the temperature
is increasing at a rate of 1C per every 100 years (Barber et al, 2008).
There is no sign of carbon dioxide reductions in the near future, so we
can expect to continue to see a rise in global temperatures (Barber et
al, 2008).
A continued rise in our global climate will play a dramatic role in
sea-level rise. Sea-level rise is defined as the vertical increase in sealevel as opposed to the horizontal change of the mean high tide line
(Barber et al, 2008). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administrations records show that sea-level rise has been steadily
rising at a rate of 1 to 2.5 millimeters per year since 1990. This is
much greater than the mean sea-level rise rate for the last several
thousand years. The three main causes of this rise are thermal
expansion brought on by the warming of ocean water, the loss of land
based ice such as glaciers and ice caps due to melting and subsidence
and land movement (NOAA, 2011).
Oceans have an enormous heat storage capacity and will absorb
heat brought on by global climate change and result in expansion
(COSEE, 2010). This greater value in water volume causes sea-level
rise. Also, as atmospheric temperatures begin to rise there is an
increase in ice and snow melt (COSEE, 2010). The melting of floating
ice does not affect sea-level rise, but when the ice that currently sits
on top of landmasses melts, we will see an increase in sea-level

(COSEE, 2010). Not only is this melting process adding a greater

volume of water to our ocean basins, but it is also affecting Earths
albedo. Albedo is the measure of how much solar radiation is reflected
back into space. Areas covered in snow or by ice have a very high
albedo and therefore play an essential role in regulating our global
climate. The ice-albedo feedback explains just how this process works.
As temperatures rise ice begins to melt, this allows for more solar
radiation to be absorbed by our planet and in turn increases our global
temperature. This is a positive feedback system that continues to
cycle as temperatures increase (COSEE, 2010).
The last factor to take into account when dealing with the causes
of sea-level rise is subsidence and land movement. When landmasses
are covered beneath glaciers they subside due to the added weight.
When the ice melts the land begins to emerge again. Land is divided
into tectonic plates, so, when one side of the land is subsiding the
other side is emerging. This process of plate movement is known as
isostatic rebound. This glacial isostatic adjustment explains why in
some areas of the world sea-level rise is actually falling. Satellites are
used to measure the sea-level change as it relates to glacial isostatic
adjustment (COSEE, 2010). Subsidence can also occur if large amounts
of groundwater or oil are withdrew on numerous occasions over a short
period of time. This will cause the land to actually sink down, posing a
larger threat to sea-level rise (COSEE, 2010).

If these three main causes of sea-level rise continue to occur,

globally we will see potential effects. The main things that come to
mind are damage to coastal ecosystems, homes and infrastructure,
agriculture, shipping, property value, and inland populations. Around
80% of the worlds population live within sixty-miles of marine
coastline. Where would these populations migrate? There will not be
enough land inland to support everyone without very heavy population
densities. Whole island countries have the potential of being
completely wiped out, leaving their residents to find refuge in other
countries (APCCC, 2009).
There would also be destruction of coastal ecosystems. Wetland
and estuaries are some of the most biologically productive places on
earth and they would be permanently changed, making them less
valuable to humans. Not only do these environments supply us with
food, they are also essential for flood control, water filtration, and
erosion control. A rise of 50 centimeters would inundate 50% of North
American coastal wetlands (Barber et al, 2008).
While a great deal of research has been done on global climate
change and sea-level rise, there seems to be a lack of research on how
people perceive the potential effects of this rise and their overall
degree of SLR literacy. Through a survey 0of coastal and non-coastal
residents in eastern North Carolina, this research has sought to gauge
respondents sea-level rise literacy and perceptions for the coastal

region. These SLR literacy rates and risk perceptions can be used to
help determine both the knowledge and concern level of current North
Carolina residents about sea-level rise and its likely impacts.
Curriculum information can be used to design education programs that
aim to raise awareness within the public school system. The data can
also be used to help policy makers and town planners when making
adaption and mitigation plans for the future.
Sea-level Rise in Eastern North Carolina
Eastern North Carolina is already seeing the effects of sea-level
rise and remains highly vulnerable. In 2004 the State of the Coast
report wrote that North Carolina has one of the highest rates of sealevel rise in the world, ranging between 12 and 17 inches a century
(Barber et al, 2008). If current rates continue, we could see a one-foot
inundation in as little has 35 years (APCCC, 2009). The Albemarle and
Pamlico Sound region has already been identified as one of the top
three most threatened areas from sea-level rise in the United States
(NCSG, 2011). The Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system (APES) is the
second largest in the United States and has an extensive barrier island
chain, and over 2,300 square miles of land is vulnerable to 1-meter
sea-level rise (NCSG, 2011). Figure 1.1 shows the sea-level rise
vulnerability in the APES. Sea-level rise in the Albemarle-Pamlico
Sound will lead to a large amount of coastal erosion (Riggs et al, 2003).

Figure 1. Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability in the Albemarle-Pamlico

Estuarine System
Source: ECU Renci (Gore et al, 2011)
In Drowning The North Carolina Coast: Sea-level Rise and
Estuarine Dynamics 2003, Riggs and Ames estimate that the average
rate of erosion for this area will be 3.8 feet a year with current sealevel rise rates. Erosion is not the only issue that will be faced by the
Albemarle-Pamlico. Erosion leads to a loss of land, which means a loss
of habitat and specifically, wetlands (Riggs et al, 2003). This will affect
local economies and North Carolinas fishing industry. About 80% of
the seafood that we consume is born and matures in an estuarine

system. A one-foot rise in sea-level would greatly flood the AlbemarlePamlico Sound, devastating the nurseries and fisheries that exist within
its system. A great deal of flooding will also cause economic losses, a
loss of urban infrastructure, and a collapse of barrier island segments.
Specifically, the Albemarle peninsula could face saltwater intrusion, a
rising water table, an introduction of invasive species, and major shifts
in species distributions (Barber et al, 2008).
North Carolina beaches are a prime vacation spot making tourism
a huge part of our economy. In 2007, the Department of Economics at
Appalachian State University conducted research that calculated the
potential economic loss on coastal Carolina for sea-level rise. By the
year 2080, there may be lost beach revenue of $3.9 billion. Property
loss may be around $6.9 billion and property loss due to permanent
inundation could be anywhere from $242 million to $2.7 billion. That is
a hard hit on North Carolinas economy (ASU, 2007).
It is clear that sea-level rise will have a significant impact on North
Carolina and the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound region. Policy makers
should be motivated by research to start mitigation efforts before we
start to experience the more serious effects. Land management
projects can be put in place to reduce the amount of potential erosion
and loss of land. There are policy measures such as setback
regulations that encourage the gradual retreat from ocean and
estuarine waters. North Carolina law prohibits the use of hardened

10

structures along the coastline (Kalo et al, 2005). However, since

serious land changes will occur with sea-level rise, policy makers may
limit the use of structures such as jetties and groins to help migrate
coastal wetlands inland. But, the resulting change in sediment
transport cased by the hardened structure could create a problem all of
its own. Many land managers are uncertain as to what mitigations
should be made to lessen the effects of sea-level rise. Conservation
projects such as restoring submerged aquatic vegetation beds could
help to stabilize shores, decrease erosion rates, provide habitats, and
improve overall water quality (Barber et al, 2008). But, when it comes
to the question of long-term mitigation projects policy makers are still
in the dark. Other issues include funding and determining who is
responsible to help pay for all of these protective measures. Some of
the poorest counties in North Carolina are located within the
Albemarle-Pamlico watershed (APCCC, 2009).
The theme of uncertainty continues to show up throughout
many different aspects of the sea-level rise debate. Understanding
how people perceive the topic of sea-level rise in Eastern North
Carolina is essential in determining what should be done for the future.
While a great deal of research has been done on global climate change
and sea-level rise, there seems to be a lack of research on how people
perceive the potential effects of this rise and their overall degree of
SLR literacy. Through a survey of coastal and non-coastal residents in

11

eastern North Carolina, this research has sought to gauge respondents

sea-level rise literacy and perceptions for the coastal region. These SLR
literacy rates and risk perceptions can be used to help determine both
the knowledge and concern level of current North Carolina residents
about sea-level rise and its likely impacts. Curriculum information can
be used to design education programs that aim to raise awareness
within the public school system. The data can also be used to help
policy makers and town planners when making adaption and mitigation
plans for the future.

Sea-Level Rise Literacy Vs. Risk Perceptions

This study concentrates on both sea-level rise literacy and risk
perception. It is important to understand the difference between these
two concepts and how each is defined. SLR literacy is a measurement
of how well respondents are informed about the topic of sea-level rise.
I have based this measurement on the concept of science literacy,
which is defined by the United States National Center for Education
Statistics as the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts
and processes required for personal decision making, participation in
civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity" (NAS 1996). A
scientifically literate person has the capacity to read and understand
articles about science and to engage in social conversations about the

12

validity of the conclusions. They can ask, find, or determine answers to

questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences. A
science literate person has the ability to describe, explain, and predict
natural phenomena, as well as identify scientific issues underlying
national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically
and technologically informed. A person must also be able to evaluate
the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the
methods used to generate it (NAS, 1996).
The concepts embodied in science literacy can then be used to
generate sea-level rise literacy. A persons rate of sea-level rise
literacy can be measured based on their ability to describe and explain
the causes and effects of sea-level rise. Questions were asked to gauge
the participants overall level of understanding about sea-level rise, as
well as their level of news access, news awareness, environmental
awareness and civic engagement. Looking at these factors can help
determine the overall level of SLR literacy among respondents. The
average literacy rate will summarize what people really know about
sea-level rise and suggest education that pushes greater awareness is
needed.
Risk perception is the judgment that a person makes about a
specific hazard. It measures the degree to which a person cares about
a potential risk (OConnor et al, 1999). The study of risk perception
looks at the individual judgments people make about the degree of

13

danger and how this then influences their behavior (Mosely, 2013). A
number of factors can influence a persons perception to a specific risk,
such as personality, previous experience, the ability to exercise control
over the particular risk, the degree to which scientific information
becomes part of public knowledge, and ones friends, family and
neighbors view and respond to risk. Risk is defined in ways that reflect
moral, political, socio-economic, and cultural situations (Mosely, 2013).
The survey seeks to gauge risk perceptions by asking questions that
reference whether or not sea-level rise is occurring, will it affect them,
to what degree will it affect them, their level of concern, how it will
affect different levels of the economic sector, rates of rise,
implementation of mitigation plans, impact on inland counties, and
whether or not anything can be done to minimize the impacts. All
questions are strictly opinions and measure the level of overall concern
and belief. Measuring risk perception is critical to this research because
in order to implement changes in education, mitigation, and public
policies we must first understand how the general public perceives the
potential risk caused by sea-level rise.
Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has
been conducted that focuses on sea-level rise risk perceptions among
adult residents of North Carolinas Outer Banks region (Barber et al,
2009). The significance of their research was to understand residents
perceptions in order to structure and implement educational efforts

14

and polices. The aim of the research was to spark more in-depth
analyses of public perceptions, motivate citizens, and inspire
government action. Similar questions were used to produce the Sealevel Rise Literacy and Perceived Risk in Eastern North Carolina survey.
The goal is to be able to compare our findings with that of the
University of North Carolinas and identify similarities and differences.
Their study showed uncertainties in the causes of sea-level rise, and
over half of their 232 participants felt uninformed on the topic of sealevel rise. A large majority of their sample size believed that sea-level
rise was occurring in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina. When
discussing funding options, 84% of participants believed that the
government should consider sea-level rise when making decisions for
the future. Their analysis found correlations between education level
and perceptions of sea-level rise as a risk. Residents with higher levels
of formal education typically had a better understanding of sea level
rise and its threats. The data suggests that educational efforts should
focus on residents whose highest level of completed education is high
school or GED. When analyzing study responses, a few correlations
were found between age and
perceptions about sea level rise (Barber et al, 2008). The findings of
this study can be compared to the results of the sea-level rise literacy
and perceived risk in eastern North Carolina survey.
While research has been done that look at risk perceptions, very

15

little research has been done in Eastern North Carolina regarding sealevel rise literacy. A study conducted by the Yale Project on Climate
Change studied climate change literacy rates in India (Leiserowitz et al,
2012). Their research examined the current state of public climate
change awareness, beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behaviors in
India, as well as measure public observations of changes in local
weather and climate patterns. They studied how different factors such
as news access, news awareness, environmental awareness and civic
engagement affected climate change literacy levels. Their findings are
intended to contribute to both scientific and public understanding
about climate change and provide useful information for the Indian
climate change community (Leiserowitz et al, 2012). This study allowed
us to see the format of science literacy questions. Some climate
change literacy questions from this study were then modified to
measure sea-level rise specifically.
Methods:
For this study, a survey-based approach was used to gauge the
publics perception of sea-level rise in North Carolina. The survey was
designed using some of the same questions as UNCs risk perception
survey mentioned earlier (Barber et al, 2008). It was important that the
survey included questions that gauged both SLR literacy and risk
perception. Questions from a research study done in India by the Yale
Project on Climate Change Communication, regarding climate change

16

literacy, were adapted to be included within the survey (Leiserowitz et

al, 2012). Questions from that survey were used to address the issue of
climate change literacy. The questions were adapted to gauge sealevel rise literacy specifically. The survey was also designed to collect
demographic data so that it could be used in correlation models. The
main focuses of the survey were SLR literacy, perceptions, and
mitigation/funding options. Results from this survey can be used to
help better inform and educate the public regarding how sea-level rise
in North Carolina will ultimately affect them. The data can help
construct Environmental Science based curricula to be used by the
North Carolina Public School System, as well as mitigation plans and
promote changes in public policy.
Population Selection and Data Collection
The subjects for the general public study are residents of North
Carolina living in Dare, Duplin, New Hanover, and Pitt County. Not all
participants in the general public survey are from one of North
Carolinas Coastal Area Management Acts (CAMA) defined coastal
counties. By surveying non-coastal counties, a comparison can be
made between residents views representing both demographics. This
audience was chosen because it represents coastal eastern North
Carolina, along with the inland areas, so that comparisons can be
made regarding their different levels of understanding and concern.
While inland counties may not experience the direct impact of sea-

17

level rise they too will be affected because they are tied to state
economic investments in the coastal region and tourism revenue that
goes back to the state through taxes.

Figure 2. Coastal and inland survey locations

The sampling method used was a convenience sampling.
Convenience sampling is a type of non-probability sampling where the
population is selected based on availability rather than randomly
selected from the entire population. While efficient, convenience
sampling cannot always be the best representation because it is not
guaranteed to cover the ideals of an entire population (Kalton, 1983).
While convenience sampling might not always yield the most
statistically valid results, the method can be justified when there is an
inability to identify members of a population, there is a lack of

18

resources, or when there is a need to establish the existence of a

problem (Kalton, 1983).
The general public survey (Appendix A) was given to each
participate with a brief explanation as to why this research is being
conducted, as well as a letter of consent. No background information
on sea-level rise rates was provided to ensure that perceptions are not
skewed. Each participate was asked to fill out the survey to the best of
their ability and was given the option to answer not sure or leave
questions blank if they do not feel comfortable answering. A total of
200 surveys were administered to residents, 50 per county.
Data Analysis
Information was collected on different variables such as age,
gender, education, occupation, income and county of permanent
residence. Questions seek to gauge the participants understanding of
the topic of sea-level rise, the cause, whether or not it will affect them
and in what aspects, whether or not it is already occurring in North
Carolina, future policy and development plans, inland impact, literacy
and who is responsible to pay for mitigations. The surveys were
collected; raw data was put into Microsoft Excel and then analyzed
using IBM SPSS statistical analysis software. The specific type of data
analysis was distributions, frequencies and cross tabulations.
Demographic data and residency information were compared to SLR

19

literacy, perceptions and funding options. Conclusions were then drawn

from these comparisons.
Sea-level Rise Literacy Analysis
Participants were asked to list how many days per week they
access different types of news sources, such as newspapers,
magazines, television, Internet and radio. If respondents listed having
accessed at least three media sources over five times per week they
were considered to have a high level of news access. Respondents who
reported having accessed at least two media sources over five times
per week were considered to have a moderate level of news access. If
respondents listed having accessed anything less they were ranked at
a low level of news access. News awareness was determines based on
the types of news respondents follow. The types of news that
correspond with this research are world affairs, environmental issues,
local politics, national politics, and the local weather forecast.
Respondents that chose at least three of these categories were
considered to have news awareness, respondents who selected less
than three news types were considered to not be well informed about
the news.
Environmental awareness focused on measuring the respondents
level of knowledge about other environmental issues including: water
pollution, air pollution, global warming, population issues, land use,
and energy conservation. They were asked to rate their level of

20

knowledge as with a lot, something, just a little, never heard of it, or

dont know. Respondents that listed their knowledge level at a lot or
something for at least four of the issues were ranked as having a high
level of environmental awareness. Those that responded with a lot or
something for at least three issues were considered having a moderate
level of environmental awareness. All other respondents who only felt
comfortable with two issues or less were listed having a low level of
environmental awareness.
How well respondents felt connected to their communities, their
participation in the last general election, and the number of
organization and community groups they are involved in, determined
their degree of civic engagement. Those respondents involved in three
or more organizations have a high level of civic engagements.
Participating in two organizations was considered a moderate level of
engagement and one or less ranked as low.
Results
In total, 139 respondents completed surveys. There were 67
coastal respondents and 72 inland respondents. All surveys were
collected in public forums by the researcher and all were included for
analysis. Descriptive statistics of respondents surveys are summarized
in this section.
Demographics of Respondents

21

Data describing the age of respondents is shown in Figure 3. Of

the 137 respondents who provided their age, the median age was
between 41 and 50 years, with the youngest respondent being 17
years old and the oldest respondent being 80 years old. There was a
range of 63 years among respondents. The most highly represented
group was the 21-30 age group. Figure 4 shows the age breakdown
for coastal respondents and inland respondents. The majority of inland
respondents were apart of the 21-30 age class. The ages of coastal
respondents were split fairly even over age classes. The differences in
age range between geographic locations may affect sea-level rise
literacy levels and perceptions. It is important to keep these
demographic differences in mind when comparing coastal and inland
respondents to one another.

Age of Respondents by Class

26
2

16 17 12 13

61
-7
0

21
-3
0

Re
sp
on
s

Number of Respondents

52

41
-5
0

60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Age Class

Figure 3. The number of respondents by age

22

Age Class by Residency

Coastal
Inland

51
-6
0
71
-8
0

18
-2
0
31
-4
0

40
35
35
30 25
25
17 15
20
13
10 8
Number of Respondents 15
10
4 2 5
5 1
1
1 2
0
0 0

Age Class

Figure 4. The number of respondents in each age class by residency

Data describing the sex of respondents is shown in Figure 5. The
number of female respondents (64%) was higher than that of male
respondents (36%). Figure 6 shows the breakdown of sex by residency.
Coastal and inland locations had very similar breakdowns of sex by
residency.

Sex of Respondents

36%

Male
Female

64%

Figure 5. The percentage of respondents by sex

23

Sex by Residency
50
45
40
35
30
25
Number of Respondents
20
15
10
5
0

47

43

Male
24

Coastal

25

Female

Inland

Figure 6. Sex of respondents by residency

Education levels of respondents are displayed in Figure 7. All
respondents provided their highest education level attained. Almost
half of the respondents held a degree no higher than a high school
diploma or GED. Another 52% of respondents held a higher education
degree. Three respondents listed their highest level of education as
Less than High School. Education has been broken down by
residency in Figure 8. Of all of the 67 coastal respondents, 52 or 77.6%
have had some type of higher education. Of the 72 inland respondents,
only 27 or 37.5% have had a higher education. The difference in
education level between coastal and inland respondents may affect
sea-level rise literacy rates, because education level is strongly tied to
literacy.

24

Highest Level of Education Attained by Respondents

Less than High School
High School or GED

11% 2%

Trade School
Associate's Degree

25%

47%

Bachelor's Degree
Graduate Degree

13%1%

Figure 7. The percentage of respondents by education level

Education Level by Residency

25

1 3
0 0

Re
sp
on
s
o
N

15
10
10
9
8

Coastal
Inland

D
eg
re
e

15

Number of Respondents

41

G
ra
du
at
e

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Figure 8. Education level by residency

Data summarizing income level of respondents is listed in Figure
9. One hundred and twenty seven respondents provided information
regarding their income level. The median income was $25,000 to
$50,000. The largest number of respondents had incomes of $0 to
$25,000. The fewest number of respondents had an income level of

25

$100,000 or more. Figure 10 displays the breakdown of income level by

residency.

Income Level of Respondents by Class

37
24

19

12

Re
sp
on
s

Number of Respondents

47

e
$2
5,
00
0$5
0,
00
0
$1
00
,0
00
or
m
or
e

50
40
30
20
10
0

Income Class

Figure 9. The number of respondents by income level

Income Level by Residency

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
$5
e
0,
00
0$1
00
-0
00

Inland

Re
sp
on
s

Number of Respondents

Coastal

Figure 10. Income level by residency

Respondents Sea-Level Rise Literacy

26

Respondents were asked to rate their current knowledge on the

topic of sea-level rise. This question helps to gauge respondents
familiarity and level of comfort with the research topic. Table 1 shows
responses to this question for both coastal and inland respondents.
One-fourth of participants listed their current knowledge level as
moderate or higher. This suggests that a great deal of uncertainty
exists about the topic of sea-level rise. Expert and moderate responses
were scored as having a high level of current knowledge, while none
and very little responses were scored as having a low current
knowledge level. Inland respondents reported having a higher level of
current knowledge (27.77%) than coastal respondents (22.39%). When
comparing current knowledge level and highest level of education
completed, there is a positive correlation between higher knowledge
level and higher education. Approximately 21.74% of participants with
a high school diploma or less reported having a high level of
knowledge on the topic. While, 28.57% of participants with a higher
education reported having a higher level of knowledge. Males (34.69%)
reported their current knowledge level higher than females (20%).
There does not appear to be a strong correlation between current
knowledge level and income.

27

Current Level of Knowledge

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative
Percent

Valid

None

31

22.3

22.3

22.3

Very Litte

73

52.5

52.5

74.8

Moderate

32

23.0

23.0

97.8

2.2

2.2

100.0

139

100.0

100.0

Expert
Total

Table 1. Current level of knowledge percentages for all respondents

With respect to the cause of sea-level rise, 65.1% believed it was
human induced, 52.3% believed that it was a normal uncontrollable
historical cycle, and 64.4% of people believed it was attributed to
natural climate change. Respondents were able to select more than
one cause of sea-level rise, and most did. These percentages suggest
that misconceptions exist regarding the cause of sea-level rise. When
asked if more research is needed in order for me to believe sea-level
rise to be an issue, 46.8% of respondents agreed. Only 25.18% of
respondents felt informed about the topic. This data suggests that
uncertainty exists and that steps should be made to improve education
for all counties in North Carolina.
Respondents were asked how certain they are that sea-level rise
is occurring. Figure 11 shows these results. Seventy-three percent of
respondents were either very certain or somewhat certain that sealevel rise is occurring. This is an environmental issue that people do

28

recognize. Figures 12 and 13 show the breakdown of certainty level by

residency. Overall, inland respondents (72%) feel more certain that
sea-level rise is occurring than coastal respondents (61%). This is
surprising since coastal respondents would see the affects of sea-level
rise more directly than inland respondents.

Respondents Level of Certainty That Sea-Level Rise is Occuring

Very Certain

14

Somewhat Certain

43

Not Certain

32

Don't Know

50

Figure 11. Respondents level of certainty that sea-level rise is

occurring

Certainty Level of Coastal Respondents

Very Certain

6%

Somewhat Certain

33%

Not Certain

33%

Don't Know

28%

Figure 12. Certainty level of coastal respondents

29

Certainty Level of Inland Respondents

Very Certain

14%
29%

Somewhat Certain
Not Certain

14%

Don't Know

43%

Figure 13. Certainty level of inland respondents

Next, we can examine factors that affect sea-level rise literacy.
Data comparing both coastal and inland respondents level of news
access is displayed in Figure 14 and 15. Respondents were asked to list
how many days per week they access five different media sources
(newspapers, magazines, television, Internet, and radio). Based on
their responses, their level of news access was determined as high,
moderate or low. The level of news access was much greater for
coastal respondents than that of inland respondents. Table 2 shows a
cross tabulation comparing the level of news access with the highest
level of education completed for each respondent. This table suggests
that the higher the level of education completed, the more a
respondent accesses multiple media sources. When comparing sex to
level of news access, more males (87.76%) had a greater level of news
access (high or moderate) than females (74.44%). Table 3 shows the

30

comparison between news access level and income. As income

increase, the level of news access also increases.

Coastal Respondents Level of News Access

9%

High
Moderate
Low

35%

56%

Figure 14. Percentage of coastal respondents by news access level

Inland Respondents Level of News Access

32%

25%

High
Moderate
Low

42%

Figure 15. Percentage of inland respondents by news access level

31

Education * News Access CrossTabulation

NewsAccess
High

Low

No Response

Less than High School

21

23

21

65

Trade School

Associate's Degree

18

Bachelor's Degree

16

18

35

Graduate Degree

15

56

54

29

139

High School or GED

Education

Moderate

Total

Total

Table 2. News access and education cross tabulation

Income * News Access CrossTabulation
NewsAccess
High

Moderate

No Response

Total

Low

12

14

18

15

47

$25,000-$50,000

11

24

$50,000-$100,000

17

14

37

$100,000 or more

10

19

56

54

29

139

$0-$25,000
Income

Total

Table 3. News access and income cross tabulation

Respondents were asked to mark all that apply when given a list
of different news types that they follow. The types of news that are
most closely related to this research are world affairs, environmental
issues, local politics, national politics and the local weather forecast.
After examining respondents responses it was then determined
whether or not they would be considered to have news awareness.
Respondents were ranked as either yes or no for having news
32

awareness. Figures 16 and 17 show news awareness for both coastal

and inland respondents. Three-fourths of coastal respondents access
news types that are most related to this research. Inland respondents
are almost half and half for having news awareness and not having
news awareness. Overall, coastal respondents have a greater level of
news awareness than non-coastal respondents. When comparing news
awareness to the highest level of education completed, those that
attended some type of higher education program had a greater level of
news access that related to this research topic. Males had a somewhat
greater level of news awareness (67.35%) than females (61.11%).
Table 4 displays a cross tabulation comparing news awareness with
income. As income increases, more respondents are listed as having
news awareness.

Coastal Respondents News Awareness

25%

Yes
No

75%

Figure 16. Percentage of coastal respondents by news awareness

33

Inland Respondents News Awareness

Yes
No

47%

53%

Figure 17. Percentage of inland respondents by news awareness

Income * News Awareness CrossTabulation
NewsAwareness
Yes

Income

Total

No

No Response

10

12

$0-$25,000

23

24

47

$25,000-$50,000

15

24

$50,000-$100,000

25

12

37

$100,000 or more

15

19

88

51

139

Total

Table 4. News awareness and income cross tabulation

Respondents were then asked to rate their knowledge on other
environmental issues including: water pollution, air pollution, global
warming, population issues, land use, and energy conservation.
Respondents that listed their knowledge level at a lot or something for
at least four of the issues were ranked as having a high level of
environmental awareness. Those that responded with a lot or
something for at least three issues were considered having a moderate
level of environmental awareness. All other respondents who only felt

34

comfortable with two issues or less were listed having a low level of
environmental awareness. Overall, the level of environmental
awareness is moderate (41%) to low (42.4%). Only 16.5% of
participants had a high level of environmental awareness. Figure 18
and 19 compare environmental awareness for coastal and inland
respondents. The level of environmental awareness is greater among
coastal respondents. Only 47.83% of respondents with a high school
diploma or less reported having a high to moderate level of
environmental awareness, while 67.14% of respondents with a higher
education listed having the same high to moderate level. A positive
correlation does exist between environmental awareness and
education. Females had a greater level of environmental awareness
(58.89%) than males (55.10%). Table 5 shows the cross tabulation
between environmental awareness level and income. As participants
income increase, so does the level of environmental awareness.

Environmental Awareness Level for Coastal Respondents

32%

21%

High
Moderate
Low

47%

35

Figure 18.Percentage of coastal respondents by environmental

awareness

Environmental Awareness Level for Inland Respondents

13%

High
Moderate

52%

Low
35%

Figure 19. Percentage of inland respondents by environmental

awareness
Income * EnviroAwareness CrossTabulation
EnviroAwareness
High

Income

Total

Moderate

Total
Low

No Response

12

$0-$25,000

11

31

47

$25,000-$50,000

14

24

$50,000-$100,000

15

13

37

$100,000 or more

19

23

57

59

139

Table 5. Environmental Awareness and Income Cross Tabulation

Next, the participants were asked to check all organizations and
groups that they are apart of in an effort to gauge their level of civic
engagement. Those respondents involved in three or more
organizations have a high level of civic engagements. Participating in

36

two organizations was considered a moderate level of engagement and

one or less ranked as low. In general, civic engagement was moderate
to low, with only 23.7% having a high level. Figures 20 and 21 show the
difference in civic engagement among coastal and inland respondents.
Civic engagement level is higher for coastal participants. Respondents
with higher education generally tended to be more involved within
their communities than those with a high school degree or less. Males
were more involved among their communities (63.27%) than females
(58.89%). There is a slightly positive correlation between income and
level of civic engagement. This may suggest that respondents with a
greater income have the means necessary to participate more.

Civic Engagement Level for Coastal Respondents

32%

25%

High
Moderate
Low

43%

Figure 20. Percentage of coastal respondents by civic engagement

level

37

Civic Engagement Level for Inland Respondents

23%

High
Moderate
Low

46%
31%

Figure 21. Percentage of inland respondents by civic engagement level

When determining SLR literacy it is also important to include
factors such as voting history, prior knowledge, and awareness of
governmental policy involving sea-level rise. Figure 22 shows the
number of respondents that voted in the last general election. Of the
111 participants that voted in the last general election, 54 were from
coastal counties and 57 were from inland counties. Respondents were
asked if they had heard about sea-level rise prior to this survey. They
were able to respond with agree, disagree, not sure, or does not apply.
The results are listed in Table 6. Overall, most people had heard about
sea-level rise prior to completing this survey. Of the 123 respondents
that agreed to the statement, 61 were from coastal counties and 62
were from inland counties. Lastly, participants were asked whether or
not they had heard of North Carolina House Bill 819 regarding sea-level
rise and coastal planning. Figure 23 shows the results for this question.

38

The general public does not have prior knowledge regarding House Bill
819 in North Carolina. This suggests that SLR literacy is low when it
comes to the governmental policy aspect of the research topic. Of the
15 people who had heard of NC House Bill 819, three were from coastal
counties and 12 were from inland counties. This finding seemed
somewhat abnormal since coastal respondents had a higher level of
news access and news access. Coastal management policies would
have a greater impact on those participants living in coastal counties.

rcentage of Respondents that Voted in the Last General Electi

12%

No Response

6% 2%

Yes
No
N/A
80%

Figure 22. Percentage of respondents by voting history

Prior Knowledge Level
Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative
Percent

No Response

.7

.7

.7

123

88.5

88.5

89.2

Disagree

10

7.2

7.2

96.4

Not Sure

2.9

2.9

99.3

N/A

.7

.7

100.0

139

100.0

100.0

Agree
Valid

Total

Table 6. Percentage of respondents by prior knowledge

39

ercentage of Respondents Who Have Heard of NC House Bill 81

11%

4% 11%

Agree
Disagree
Not Sure
N/A

75%

Figure 23. Percentage of respondents by knowledge of NC House Bill

819
Respondents Sea-Level Rise Risk Perceptions
Risk perception is the judgment that a person makes about a
specific hazard. The questions in this section seek to gauge
respondents concern and belief in sea-level rise. Respondents were
asked whether or not they believe that sea-level rise is occurring in
North Carolina. The majority of respondents either believed that it was
occurring (66.9%) or were unsure (30.9%) Only 2.2% of all respondents
believed that sea-level rise was not occurring in North Carolina. The
breakdown between coastal and inland respondents is almost equal,
with 67.16% of coastal respondents agreeing that sea-level rise is
occurring in North Carolina and 66.67% of inland respondents. When
comparing education level with occurrence of sea-level rise in NC,
those respondents with some type of higher education have a greater
belief that sea-level rise is occurring in NC. More females believe that

40

sea-level rise is occurring in NC (73.33%) than males (55.1%). There

was also a positive correlation between income level and whether or
not you believe sea-level rise is occurring.
Next, respondents were asked whether or not they thought sealevel rise was going to affect them. Overall, most respondents believed
that it was either going to affect them (43.3%) or they were unsure
(40.3%). Only 16.5% believed that sea-level rise would have no effect
on them. Slightly more coastal respondents (85.07%) agreed or were
unsure that sea-level rise would affect them than inland respondents
(81.94%). These statistics show that there is still a great deal of
uncertainty involved with the topic of sea-level rise. It is difficult for
people to make a decision as to whether or not they will be affected by
sea-level rise in the future. Surprising, inland respondents seemed
almost just as concerned as coastal respondents. Females were 20%
more positive that sea-level rise would affect them than males.
Respondents were then asked to rate how worried they were
about the issue of sea-level rise. They were able to select very worried,
somewhat worried, not very worried, not worried at all, and dont know.
Table 7 shows these results. The number of people who reported
having some level of concern was almost the same as the number of
people who have little to no concern. Surprisingly, inland respondents
had a greater level of worry (50%) than coastal respondents (38.82%).

41

This may suggest that coastal residents accept the fact that they live
in a high-risk area and have come to term with it somewhat.

Level of Worry
Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative
Percent

Valid

No Response

.7

.7

.7

Very Worried

4.3

4.3

5.0

Somewhat Worried

56

40.3

40.3

45.3

Not Very Worried

47

33.8

33.8

79.1

Not At All Worried

14

10.1

10.1

89.2

Don't Know

15

10.8

10.8

100.0

139

100.0

100.0

Total

Table 7. Percentage of respondents by level of concern

Participants were then asked how important the issue of sealevel rise is to them personally. They were able to select very
important, somewhat important, not very important, not at all
important or dont know. Figure 23 shows these results. Again, more
inland respondents found this to be an important issue than coastal
respondents. More females (57.78%) found sea-level rise to be an
important issue than males (44.9%).

42

Respondents' Rank of SLR Importance

Very Important
Somewhat Important

11% 1% 10%

Not Very Worried

10%

Not At All Important

Don't Know
43%

24%

No Response

Figure 23. Percentage of respondents by level of importance

The next task was to see how people perceived the potential
risks to both coastal and inland counties. Participants were asked
whether they believed sea-level rise would only affect coastal counties.
The results for this question are shown in Figure 24. The majority of
respondents either believe sea-level rise will affect inland counties as
well, or are unsure. This question yielded a lot of uncertainty.

Responses to "Will SLR Affect Only Coastal Counties?"

23%

No Response

2%
29%

Yes
No
Not Sure

46%

Figure 24. Percentage of respondents by area affected

43

Participants were asked whether they believed the rate of sealevel rise was increasing. These results can be found in Figure 25. A
majority of coastal respondents left this question blank, making it
appear that more inland respondents believe that the rate of sea-level
rise is increasing. From a cross tabulation, it is determined that 70.15%
of coastal respondents believe that the rate of sea-level rise is
increasing, while 87.5% of inland respondents do.

Responses to "Is the Rate of Sea-Level Rise Increasing?"

11%

Yes

10%

No
No Response

79%

Figure 25. Percentage of responses by sea-level rise increase

Lastly, participants were asked whether action should be taken
to lessen the affects of sea-level rise. These results can be found in
Figure 26. Most people believe that some type should be taken to
lessen the affect of sea-level rise. Again, more inland respondents
thought that action should be taken and mitigation plans should be
developed for the future. There was a positive correlation between
education level and whether or not you believed something should be

44

done. More females believed that action should be taken. This question
suggests that people would like to have a plan for mitigating the
affects of sea-level rise. This leads us to our next questions regarding
funding for these types of mitigation projects.

Responses to "Action Should be Taken?"

21%

No Response

1%

Agree
Disagree
Not Sure

6%

N/A
72%

Figure 26. Percentage of respondents by opinion on mitigation

Funding: Who Should Pay?
Evaluating respondents risk perceptions suggests that there is
concern and a drive to design mitigation plans, improve education
programs, and reform governmental policies. The question now
becomes, who should pay for these programs? Respondents were first
asked whether or not they believe that the State and Federal
government should pay for all protection efforts. Results for this
question can be seen in Figure 27. The majority of respondents either
do not believe that the government should pay for protection efforts, or
they are unsure. This shows the level of uncertainty that is involved

45

with funding. More inland respondents support State and Federal

payment. More females (31.1%) agreed that the government should
pay for all protection programs than males (26.53%). There was no
correlation found between education or income level with this
question.

Should the State and Federal Government Pay?

Agree

1%
29%

30%

Disagree
Not Sure
N/A

40%

Figure 27. Percentage of Respondents by government funding

Participants were then asked if the State and Federal government
should implement programs to reduce loss from sea-level rise. The
responses to this question can be found in Figure 28. More people in
inland counties support protection programs funded by the State and
Federal government. The majority of coastal respondents were unsure.
More females (70%) agreed that the government should implement
protection programs than males (63.27%). There was no correlation
found between education or income level with this question.

46

the State and Federal Government Implement Protection Pro

Agree

21%

Disagree
Not Sure
N/A

12%
68%

Figure 28. Percentage of Respondents by government funding of

protection programs
Next, participants were asked whether or not they believe
private homeowners living in coastal communities should pay for their
own protection and/or recovery from sea-level rise. These results can
be found in Figure 29. The majority of participants either disagreed or
was unsure if private homeowners should pay. More coastal
respondents agreed with this statement that they should pay for their
own mitigation. Again, this may be because they accept that they live
in a high-risk area and are willing to make the investment as a tradeoff.
More males (34.69%) agreed that private homeowners should be in
charge of paying for their own protection and recovery from sea-level
rise thank females (21.11%). There were no correlations between
education and income with this question.

47

Should Private Owners Pay For All Mitigations?

Agree

1%
32%

26%

Disagree
Not Sure
N/A

41%

Figure 29. Percentage of respondents by private homeowner funding

Lastly, participants were asked whether or not they would be
willing to help fund sea-level rise protection programs in North
Carolina. The responses for this question can be found in Figure 30.
The majority of people either disagreed with the statement or was
unsure. However, 33% did state that they would be willing to help fund
government programs. More inland respondents were willing to support
these programs. However, coastal respondents who listed owning
waterfront property were more willing to fund government programs
than inland respondents. Overall, there was a lot of uncertainty for all
four locales. This shows that people identify that there is a problem
and we need to do something to fix it, but a small percentage of the
population is willing to step up and help fund protection programs. The
funding aspect of this research had the greatest level of uncertainty.
This suggests that more education on the topic is needed. The more

48

people know about an issue that is ultimately going to affect them, the
more they will be willing to help fund programs that are going to
reduce loss.

Would You Be Willing To Help Fund Protection Programs?

Agree

2%
25%

33%

Disagree
Not Sure
N/A

40%

Figure 30. Percentage of respondents by willingness to fund protection

programs
Sea-level Rise Perception and the Future for North Carolina
The purpose of this survey was to gauge peoples perceptions of
sea-level rise in North Carolina as well as their understanding and
concern for the issue. After analyzing the data it is clear that there is a
great need for education regarding sea-level rise in North Carolina. The
more the public is informed, the more likely it is that they are to
support publically-funded mitigation projects. It needs to be stressed to
residents of North Carolina that sea-level rise will not only affect costal
counties, but will directly and indirectly affect the entire state. A

49

continuous understanding of peoples perceptions will allow us to help

reduce the affects of sea-level rise in the future.
Conclusions
Analyzing the data that was collected from the surveys has
allowed us to identify trends and correlations. By understanding
respondents views on the topic of sea-level rise we can identify the
need for increased education programs and policy change. From there,
recommendations can be made so that residents, local governments,
and environmental groups can plan and tackle the issue appropriately.
Correlations were drawn between respondents SLR literacy
rates, risk perceptions, and funding options to: 1) their highest level of
education completed; 2) sex of respondents; 3) income level; 4) and
residency. Looking at specific demographics correlations can help to
better address the issues of sea-level rise as it will relate differently to
different populations. These trends and correlations are listed below.
An analysis of SLR literacy suggested that there is a strong
positive correlation between education, income, and residency on news
awareness, news access, environmental awareness, and civic
engagement level. Inland respondents ranked their current knowledge
level on the topic of sea-level rise higher than coastal respondents.
When asked if more research is needed in order for me to believe sealevel rise to be an issue, 46.8% of respondents agreed. Only 25.18% of
respondents felt informed about the topic. This data suggests that

50

uncertainty exists and that steps should be made to improve education

for all counties in North Carolina. With respect to the cause of sea-level
rise, 65.1% believed it was human induced, 52.3% believed that it was
a normal uncontrollable historical cycle, and 64.4% of people believed
it was attributed to natural climate change. Respondents were able to
select more than one cause of sea-level rise, and most did. These
percentages suggest that misconceptions exist regarding the cause of
sea-level rise. With respect to the level of certainty that sea-level rise
is occurring, 73% of all respondents were very certain or somewhat
certain that it is occurring. This reveals that the general public does
recognize sea-level rise to be an issue. Surprisingly, more inland
respondents (72%) were more certain that sea-level rise is occurring
than coastal respondents (61%). The majority of coastal respondents
listed their level of certainty as unsure.
Coastal residents had the highest rates of SLR literacy, along
with respondents with some type of higher education, and those with
medium to high incomes. Sea-level rise literacy rates might be higher
in coastal areas, because these respondents tend to have higher
education and income levels. Education programs should seek to
target populations of inland residents, those with a high school degree
or lower, and low-income groups. Males tended to have a slightly
higher SLR literacy rate than females, but overall both sexes need
greater awareness.

51

Next, it is important to look at peoples risk perceptions as to

whether or not sea-level rise is occurring at all in North Carolina. Of the
139 respondents, 66.9% of respondents agreed with the above
statement, while 2.1% disagreed, and 30.9%% were unsure. The
Perceptions of Seal-Level Rise Among Adult Residents of the Outer
Banks Survey, conducted by the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill yielded similar results. Seventy percent of their 233
participants believe that sea-level is rising in North Carolina, while 9%
disagree, 20% are unsure, and 1% finds the question to be inapplicable
(Barber et al, 2008). This suggests that people are either fairly certain
that sea-level rise is occurring in North Carolina or are unsure.
With respect to the cause of sea-level rise, 65.1% believed it was
human induced, 52.3% believed that it was a normal uncontrollable
historical cycle, and 64.4% of people believed it was attributed to
natural climate change. Respondents were able to select more than
one cause of sea-level rise, and most did. These percentages suggest
that misconceptions exist regarding the cause of sea-level rise. When
asked if more research is needed in order for me to believe sea-level
rise to be an issue, 46.8% of respondents agreed. Only 25.18% of
respondents felt informed about the topic. This data suggests that
uncertainty exists and that steps should be made to improve education
for all counties in North Carolina. When asked how certain they were
that sea-level rise was occurring,

52

Oppositely, 44.6% of respondents reported being very worried or

somewhat worried about sea-level rise. When asked if they thought
sea-level rise to be an important issue, 53.2% of respondents listed it
to be very important or somewhat important. Over half of the sample
population believes that sea-level rise is an important issue and that it
clearly will pose a threat to Eastern North Carolina. This suggests that
sea-level rise is a concern for general public and local governments
should take it into account when planning for the future.
Analyzing data from the funding section of the survey yielded the
most uncertainty. Respondents generally supported protection
programs, but were unsure as to who was responsible for funding such
programs. More inland respondents supported State and Federal
government funding and the implementation of protection programs to
help reduce loss from sea-level rise. Interestingly, coastal respondents
supported private homeowners living in coastal communities paying
for their own protection and recovery from sea-level rise. Very few
respondents were willing to help fund sea-level rise protection
programs. The majority of respondents were unsure if they wanted to
help provide assistance for this issue. This may be due to a lack of
education; people do not feel comfortable funding a project that they
are not well informed about. Policy makers and town planner could use
this perception information to gauge how people feel about mitigation
funding and use it when designing new plans for the future. In North

53

Carolinas Department of Coastal Managements Sea-Level Rise

Scoping Survey, 61% of people said that the state government should
be required to use a coastal hazards disclosure statement for real
estate transactions (North Carolina State Government, 2011). This may
be one possible solution for the future.
Due to small sample size, some conclusions may not accurately
represent the entire population of Eastern North Carolina. However, the
correlations between coastal communities and inland populations are
strong enough to suggest implementing education programs for all
demographics, but specifically inland populations.
Sea-level rise will pose problems for the future, but by
understanding how the public views this concept, we can better
prepare for its affects. Using these surveys can help to design
education programs and can help policy makers when constructing
plans for the future. It is important to start outreach efforts in all
counties of North Carolina. These programs should be used to inform
all genders, ages, races, and education levels. East Carolina University
could even make strides to find ways to better inform all students on
campus and not just those studying in fields that pertain to physical
science. Getting the word out there and educating people on sea-level
rise is one of the smartest things that can be done. The more people
know, the more they are willing to get involved. The more people who

54

become involved will help with policy making and mitigation efforts,
which will help lead us to a better tomorrow.

References

55

The Albemarle-Pamlico Conservation and Communities Collaborative. (2009). Sealevel Rise and Population Growth in North Carolina. The Albemarle-Pamlico National
Estuary Program.
The Albermarle- Pamlico National Estuary Program. "Climate Ready Estuaries: A
Blueprint for Change. The Nicholas Institute of Environmental Policy Solutions Duke
University, 2010. Web. 11 Sep 2012.
<http://portal.ncdenr.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=1f349a68-43a5-4989-83029928ae8d5774&groupId=61563>.
Appalachian State University (2007, June 22). North Carolina Coastal Economy
Vulnerable To Sea-level Rise. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 24, 2012, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/06/070622184644.htm
Barber, J., Bellis, J., Blackmore, A., Crabtree, T., Keller, M., Lamb, N., Richardson, D.,
& Robbins, M. (2008). Perceptions of Sea-level Rise Among Adult Residents of North
Carolina's Outer Banks. University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.
Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence. (2010). Thermal Expansion and Sealevel Rise. University of Maine, Retrieved from
http://cosee.umaine.edu/cfuser/resources/tr_sea_level.pdf
Delaware Department of Environment and Natural Resource Control. "Delaware
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<http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/Documents/SeaLevelRise/SLRSurveyReport.pd
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Gore, B., Carey M., Hill T., Covi M. (2011). Sea-level Rise Vulnerability in the
Albemarle Pamlico Estuarine System. [Web Map]. Retrieved from
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Justus, J., & Fletcher, S. (2006). Global Climate Change. Congressional Research, The
Library of Congress, Retrieved from http://www.earthnews.org/NLE/CRSreports/06apr/IB89005.pdf
Kalo, J., & Clark, W. (2005). Legal tides. North Carolina Coastal Resources Law,
Planning, and Policy Center, Retrieved from
http://www.nccoastallaw.org/legaltides/lt_spring05.pdf
Kalton,G.(1983).IntroductiontoSurveySampling.BeverlyHills:SagePublications.
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/fact_sample.html

Leiserowitz,A.,&Thaker,J.(2012).Cliamatechangeintheindianmind.YaleProject
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onClimateChangeCommunication,Retrievedfromhttp://environment.yale.edu/climate
communication/article/climatechangeindianmind
Mosely, William, Perramond, Eric, Hapke, Holly M, and Laris, Paul
(forthcoming 2013). Introduction to Human-Environment Geography:
Local Dynamics and Global Processes. Wiley-Blackwell.
National Academy of Sciences (1996). National Science Education Standards (Report).
National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2011, November 17). Sea-level
is Rising at an Increasing Rate. Retrieved from
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sealevel.html
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Sea-level Trends. (2012).
Retrieved from http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends.shtml
North Carolina State Government. (2011, June 8). North Carolina Sea-level Rise Impact
Study. Retrieved from http://www.ncsealevelrise.com/
O'Connor, R., Bord, R., & Fisher, A. (1999). Risk perceptions, general environmental
beliefs, and willingness to address climate change. Society of Risk Analysis, 19(3), 461471. Retrieved from
http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagrant/ClimateChangeWhiteboard/Resources/Uncertainty/M
ac1/GLSGNuncert49.pdf
Patterson, W. (2009). Rising Sea-level and its Effects. University of Saskatchewan.
Retrieved from http://geochemistry.usask.ca/bill/Courses/Climate/Coastal catastrophe
prt.pdf
Riggs, S., & Ames, D. (2003). Drowning the North Carolina Coast. North Carolina Sea
Grant, Retrieved from http://nsgl.gso.uri.edu/ncu/ncub03002.pdf

57

Budget
Funding by the 2013 NC Space Grant/ RESTEP to STEM Teacher
Education Scholarship
Supplies
Photocopying- $0.10 per page X 600 (200, 3 page surveys) = $60
TOTAL SUPPLIES EXPENSE= $60
Travel
Mileage Expenses
Wilmington 240 miles (55.5 cents/mile)= $134.00
Nags Head 260 miles (55.5 cents/mile)= $145.00
Duplin County 140 miles (55.5 cents/mile)= $78.00
TOTAL MILEAGE EXPENSES= $357.00
Lodging Expenses
Wilmington $100 X 2 nights = $200
Nags Head $100 X 2 nights= $200
TOTAL LODGING EXPENSES= $400
Meal Expenses
Wilmington $35/day X 2 days= $70
Nags Head $35/ day X 2 days= $70
TOTAL MEAL EXPENSES= $140
GRAND TOTAL= $957

58

Appendix A
Sea-level Rise Literacy and Perceived Risk in Eastern North Carolina
Survey
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability. If you
are unable or uncomfortable answering any question please feel free
to answer not sure or leave the question blank. By completing this
survey you consent to the use of your data. Thank you for your time
and assistance.
Age:
Gender: Male

Female

What is your occupation? _________________________________

What is your highest completed level of education?
___ Less than High School
___ High School or GED
___ Trade School
___ Associates Degree
___ Bachelors Degree
___ Graduate Degree
What is your annual household income?
___ $0 - $25,000
___ $25,000 - $50,000
___ $50,000 - $100,000
___ $100,000 or more
How many days per week (0-7) do you access each source of news?
___Newspapers
___ Magazines
___ TV
___ Internet
___ Radio
What types of news do you follow? (Check all that apply)
_____ Television and Movie Stars
_____ Local Politics
_____ Sports
_____ National Politics
_____ World Affairs
_____ The Local Weather
Forecast
_____ Environmental Issue, like air or water pollution
_____ Business and Financial Issues
_____ International Affairs
What county in NC do you currently live in?:
____________________________________
What is your town of residence? _______________________________________
Are you a full or part-time resident? ____________________________________
59

How many years have you lived in this area? _____________________________

Do you rent or own your residence? ____________________________________
Do you live on or own waterfront property? ______________________________
How would you rate your current knowledge on the topic of Sea-level
rise?
None

Very Little

Moderate

Expert

Sea-level rise is caused by: (Check all that apply)

____
____
____
____
____
____

Anthropogenic climate changes

A normal uncontrollable historical cycle
Natural Climate Change
Other : ___________________
None of the above
Not Sure

Sea-level rise will affect me: Yes

No

Sea-level rise is occurring in NC: Yes

Not Sure
No

Not Sure

How worried are you about sea-level rise?

Very worried
Somewhat worried
Not very worried
Not at all worried
Dont know
How important is the issue of sea-level rise to you personally?
Very important
Somewhat important
Not very
important
Not at all important
Dont know
Do you believe sea-level rise will only affect coastal counties? Yes
No
Not Sure
Sea-level rise will affect: (Check all that apply):
____
____
____
____

Housing
____ Job Markets
Tourism
____ Agriculture
Property Values
____ Politics
Wildlife & Ecosystems ____ Fishing Industries
60

____ Inland Populations

How would you rate your knowledge on these other environmental
issues?
Water Pollution
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
Air Pollution
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
Global Warming
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
Population Issues
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
Land Use
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
Energy Conservation
A lot Something Just a little Never heard of it Dont know
How connected do you feel to your community?
Very connected
Somewhat connected
connected
Not at all connected
Dont know

Not very

Did you vote in the last general election? Yes No N/A

Are you involved in any of the following organization or groups?
(Check all that apply)
______ Neighborhood Committee
______ Community Club/ Organization/ Association/ Society
______ Church Activities/Organizations
______ Economic Group/ Co-operative
______ Political Organization or Party
______ Other:________________________________________
For the following questions please write A for agree D for disagree,
NS for not sure, or NA for does not apply.
____ I have heard about sea-level rise prior to this survey
____ I believe that sea-level rise should be taken into account when
policy makers are
developing plans for current and future development
61

____ More research is needed in order for me to accept the effects of

sea-level rise
____ I am concerned about sea-level rise in North Carolina
____ Sea-level rise will have an impact on inland counties
____ Action should be taken to mitigate the affects of sea-level rise
____ I will experience some effects from sea-level rise within my
lifetime
____ Nothing can be done to stop sea-level rise from occurring
____ The State and Federal government should pay for all mitigations
____ Private owners living in coastal communities should pay for their
own
mitigations
____ I would be willing to help fund sea-level rise protection programs
____ I have heard of NC House Bill 819, regarding sea-level rise and
coastal
development in North Carolina

Please write down any suggestions you have for protecting Eastern
North Carolinas coast from sea-level rise:

If you have any other questions, comments, or concerns about sealevel rise in Eastern North Carolina please feel free to list them below:

62

Survey Consent Document:

You are being invited to participate in a research study titledSealevel Rise Literacy and Perceived Risk in Eastern North Carolina being
conducted by Alyssa Randall, a student at East Carolina University in
the Geography department. The goal is to survey 200 individuals in/at
Dare, Duplin, New Hanover, and Pitt County. The survey will take
approximately 5 minutes to complete. It is hoped that this information
will assist us to better understand residents awareness and gauge
comprehension of environmental transformations such as sea-level rise
that is critical for formulating effective education, policy, and
mitigation plans. The survey is anonymous, so please do not write your
name. Your participation in the research is voluntary. You may choose
not to answer any or all questions, and you may stop at any time.
There is no penalty for not taking part in this research study.
Please call Alyssa Randall at 919-334-8408 for any research related
questions or the Office for Human Research Integrity (OHRI) at 252744-2914 for questions about your rights as a research participant.