Climate Change

Sea Level on the British Columbia Coast

Click on graph for larger version.

Relative sea level has generally risen on the British Columbia coast since the early 1900s.

One widely publicized consequence of global warming is rising sea levels.

B.C. records show that:

• Relative sea level is rising at Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Victoria. Relative sea level fell at Tofino because geological processes are lifting this part of Vancouver Island more quickly than sea levels are rising.

• The parts of the B.C. coast most at risk from rising sea levels, flooding, or erosion from wave action, include the Fraser Delta and the Naikoon area of the Queen Charlotte Islands.

• Coastlines with rocky, steep-sided fiords are the least at risk from rising sea levels.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report [pdf].

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