Figure 2. Map of modeled wave height around Eastern Island during North Pacific winter conditions.

(a) Present sea level. (b) Sea level +2.0 m above present. Most reef crests and reef flats are depth-limited for waves, in that wave heights are limited to a fraction of the water depth. Thus, as water depth increases with sea-level rise over the islands’ reef flats, it allows for more deep-water wave energy to propagate onto the reef flats and more in situ wind-wave development on the reef flats.