Nexus Standards · Climate and Earth Systems · Nexus domains
Area · listed in the registry (planned)
Coasts concentrate people, ports, energy terminals and ecosystems at the interface of rising seas, storm surge, marine heatwaves and acidification, and ocean change feeds back into climate, fisheries and trade. This area of the Climate and Earth Systems programme sets records for sea-level, surge, marine heat and coastal-exposure observations and projections so that port authorities, coastal planners and fisheries managers share evidence with stated datums, uncertainty and licences. Each artifact of the area carries a UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier).
Nexus Standards (2026). Oceans and coasts risk standards: area brief, Climate and Earth Systems programme. Proposed. https://nexustandards.com/climate/oceans-and-coasts-risk-standards/. Last reviewed 17 October 2026.
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An area of the Climate and Earth Systems programme (nexus domains). The area profile sets out 5 matters in scope and 3 matters addressed by other areas.
In scope 5
Out of scope 3
Jurisdictions Application in each jurisdiction is a national decision, taken by the National Standards Council (NSC) with the competent national authorities.
The map frames the Bay of Bengal as an example geography for oceans and coasts risk; the frame gives context and is not a statement of where the standards apply. Shown at first: sea surface temperature anomaly (GHRSST MUR25, NASA JPL PO.DAAC). The layer drawer adds sea surface temperature (GHRSST MUR); ocean chlorophyll-a concentration (MODIS Aqua ocean colour); sea ice concentration (GHRSST MUR); and true colour (VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance). NASA products are served through NASA GIBS under NASA's open data policy, with acknowledgement; coastlines, boundaries and place names come from NASA GIBS reference layers (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and Natural Earth (public domain). Each layer shows its own observation date; full credits are given under the map. Other sources of the profile, such as Copernicus Marine Service ocean products and Coral Reef Watch daily 5 km heat stress products, are listed for reference.
The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.
Layers 1
Ocean state
Keyboard, with the map focused
Hold Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll to zoom
Latest available
NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth
Loading the latest NASA imagery.
Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.
Ocean state, framed on the Bay of Bengal. Layers as NASA publishes them, each with its own date.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date; indicators, not assessments of any place.
Layers and dates
A shock such as sea-level rise is observed through PSMSL tide gauge mean sea level records; its effect on oceans and coasts is recorded and propagated to Supply chain and trade risk and Food and agriculture risk standards through recorded couplings; cascade obligations are evaluated as clauses; indicators such as SDG 14.3.1 are computed from the records. 7 operations in 5 phases, built from the area profile: the cards carry its own data sources, indicators, open standards, couplings and, where listed, hazards, and each operation names the Nexus rules it implements (11). Records and artifacts are cited by UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) and version.
Shock observed start · Shock
Hazards and threats in scope: Sea-level rise, Storm surge, Coastal erosion, Marine heatwaves and Ocean acidification.
System state record · System
In scope: Sea-level observation and projection records with vertical datum, Storm surge and coastal flood forecast records and Marine heatwave and coral bleaching alert records.
Impact model model · System
Uncertainty is shown where it exists.
Coupled system step · Coupling
Couplings of this area: Supply chain and trade risk, Food and agriculture risk standards, Climate risk standards and Cities and urban systems risk standards.
Second system step · Coupling
Each step of the cascade cites the records it rests on.
Cascade clauses gate · Obligations
Nexus Standards of this area: NS-0, NS-1, NS-3, NS-3b, NS-5, NS-9, NS-11.
SDG 14.3.1 end · Indicators
Indicators of this area: SDG 14.3.1 (Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations), SDG 14.1.1 (Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density) and SDG 11.5.2 (Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to GDP, including damage to critical infrastructure).
Fig.Phases read left to right; each card names the operation, its actor and the record it leaves, and each edge label names the hand-over. Play, step or scrub; the detail panel gives the full text of the selected operation. Sources: CF Metadata Conventions · OGC Network Common Data Form (netCDF) · NS-0: Constitution and principles · NS-1: The UNI and the artifact catalog.
The sectors in scope for oceans and coasts risk standards and the relations its clauses make explicit, so records from different sectors interoperate.
Context
Coastal storm surge
Mangroves and dunes absorb the surge; where they are gone, ports, substations and water intakes take it.
W · E · I · F · H · B
The systemic couplings recorded for this context, grouped by transmission mechanism. The bar summarises each mechanism (select one to filter); each entry names the connected area or programme and describes the mechanism.
The interactive view requires JavaScript; the sections below present the same records.
Hazards and threats 6
Sectors 4
A system model of this area built from the registry: 18 hazards, 5 systems, 4 sectors, 13 controls, 5 feeds, 3 indicators. Select the components to include, choose an initiating hazard and run the scenario. Stress propagates through the hazard relations of the Nexus Hazard Standard (NHS-1), the exposure of each system, the recorded couplings and the sectors that carry the loss; adopted standards dampen transmission and live data sources support detection. All parameters are stated assumptions that the reader can adjust; results are illustrative scenario outputs for exercises and training, not forecasts or risk assessments. The Map view places the same run on an example geography, Pacific Island states, the region of the programme's context map, with open data: Natural Earth boundaries, an H3 hexagon grid and NASA satellite layers for the initiating hazard. The geography serves exercises and training and is not an assessment of that place.
Hazards
Systems and couplings
Controls
NS-0 Constitution and principlesNS-1 The UNI and the artifact catalog (grammar v0.2: domain, sector, region and environment segments)NS-3 Risk record UNIs (grammar, legacy crosswalk, allocation authority)NS-3b Dataset and product metadata profile (STAC, DCAT, PROV-O)NS-5 Figure, map and visualization standard (with the UI/UX kit)NS-9 Contextual UNIs (deployments, instances, programme instances)NS-11 Verification and monitoring (evidence, attestations, zero-trust conformance observation)NRS-X3 Oceans and coasts riskNRS-H11 Hazard family: Coastal and sea-level hazards (NHS-1 water.coastal)NRS-H79 Hazard family: Mental health crises (NHS-1 health.mental)NRS-H12 Hazard family: Ocean-state extremes (NHS-1 water.ocean-state)NRS-H67 Hazard family: Ocean circulation and marine tipping (NHS-1 planet.ocean-tipping)NRS-K18 Domain pack profile: Oceans coastal (DOMAIN-018)Observation
Example geography
4 couplings link this area to other areas and programmes, each with the mechanism of the link. Select a card on the diagram to trace a coupling.
Fig.The area at the left; coupled areas in the same programme, coupled areas in other programmes and the programmes reached to the right.
5 open standards, each with its relation as recorded in the register under NS-14. Hover over or focus a relation for its definition.
adopt4
CF Metadata ConventionsCF Conventions communityproposed for the registerOGC Network Common Data Form (netCDF)Open Geospatial Consortiumproposed for the registerSpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC)STAC community; OGC Community Standardlisted in the register · stacCommon Alerting Protocol Version 1.2OASIS Emergency Management TClisted in the register · oasis-cap-1-25 data sources named in the area profile, each with provider, licence, update frequency and delivery path.
Data sources are listed for reference; live data is displayed once licence review is complete.
GEBCO global bathymetric gridfor reference
GEBCO (IHO and IOC-UNESCO) · annual
Public domain
governed data servicelisted in the data register
Argo float profilesfor reference
Argo Program (international) · daily
Freely available; licence to be recorded by Legal
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
Copernicus Marine Service ocean productsfor reference
Mercator Ocean International (Copernicus Marine) · daily
Copernicus Marine service licence (free and open; attribution)
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
Coral Reef Watch daily 5 km heat stress productsfor reference
NOAA Coral Reef Watch · daily
U.S. Government work, public domain
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
PSMSL tide gauge mean sea level recordsfor reference
Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (National Oceanography Centre) · monthly
PSMSL data policy (free with citation); licence to be recorded by Legal
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
The area profile names 3 indicators, each with its framework and code.
Indicator names and codes are given as published by their stewards.
The area profile lists 7 Nexus Standards; the registry lists NS-0, NS-3, NS-3b, NS-11 for this area. Each is a proposed standard under development.
Status: proposed · 12 requirements stated. Read NS-0 · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 10 requirements stated. Read NS-1 · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 0 requirements stated. Read NS-3 · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 0 requirements stated. Read NS-3b · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 5 requirements stated. Read NS-5 · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 5 requirements stated. Read NS-9 · Requirements for this area
Status: proposed · 6 requirements stated. Read NS-11 · Requirements for this area
Standards whose text is not openly available are named and linked only. Any compatibility profile is kept on protected pages until an arrangement with the issuing body is in place.
The working group may identify restricted standards relevant to this area; they are listed here by name and link.
What each institution of the ecosystem draws from this area: GCRI Canada, as Secretariat, for evidence; The Global Risks Forum (GRF) for recognition; and The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) for capital.
GCRI Canada may accept sea-level and marine-heat records that state vertical datum, instrument and processing level as research evidence; the decision rests with GCRI Canada under its own evidence and research rules.
GRF may record port and coastal authorities adopting the shared records as part of a coastal resilience dialogue; the decision rests with GRF under its own recognition rules.
GRA may read coastal exposure and projection records with uncertainty when it reviews coastal infrastructure finance; the decision rests with GRA under its own capital-readiness rules.
Each institution determines under its own rules what it accepts as evidence; a pathway reading is neither an approval nor investment advice.
Version and source status for each standard, as published by the issuing bodies.
Available · draft in the browserCombine standards and clauses into a draft profile with citations, in YAML or JSON; nothing is submitted.
Available · runs in the browserSelect a sector, hazard family, capability and artifact type; the registry identifies the applicable standards and states the reasons.
Each console computes from the registry and states its reasoning; decisions remain with the competent bodies.
A proposed charter for this area, open to institutions and experts.
Records for sea level, surge, marine heat and coastal exposure with explicit datum and uncertainty statements.
Institutions and experts are invited to charter this working group under NS-13 by filing a public change record. National Working Groups (NWGs) contribute national inputs and field exercises through their National Nexus Consortium (NNC).
The area profile identifies 4 user communities.
3 questions identified as priorities for the working group.
This area is listed in the registry (status: planned; scope EWS; 3 crosswalk domains). It has five depth pages and a register crosswalk of its domains.
The rules of each listed standard, read through the specification reader.
Depth · CrosswalkEvery register entry in the area's domains, by relation, with the crosswalk graph.
Depth · Records and schemasScope, record, schema explorer and how a UNI resolves.
Depth · ConformanceClauses, evidence and attestations for conformance assessment.
Depth · ReadinessThe area alongside the three pathways, as a matrix.
4 Nexus Standards · 3 domains · 23 external standards · 17 issuing bodies · 0 implementing repositories. Relations (adopt, profile, crosswalk, cite) are as recorded in the register; names and standards remain with their stewards.
Crosswalk graph47 nodes and 58 links from the registry of external standards, programme areas and implementations (registry/external-standards.yaml, registry/consumers.yaml. Relations (adopt, profile, crosswalk, cite) are shown as recorded in the register.
Areas carry no geography of their own; the map shows where the bodies that issue the area's external standards are based.
| Body | Seat | Register entries |
|---|---|---|
| ISO/TC 224 | Geneva, Switzerland | 4 |
| OASIS Emergency Management TC | Woburn, Massachusetts, United States | 3 |
| WMO | Geneva, Switzerland | 2 |
| European Commission Joint Research Centre with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee | Ispra, Italy | 1 |
| IFRC | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| ISO/TC 292 | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| ITU-T | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| UN Member States (Third UN World Conference on DRR); UNDRR custodian | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| UNDRR | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| UNDRR and International Science Council | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| UNDRR, UNDP and WMO | New York, New York, United States | 1 |
| UNECE (Water Convention) with partners including FAO | Rome, Italy | 1 |
| WMO (adopted by Congress 2019) | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| WMO and UNDRR | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
| WMO, UNDRR, ITU, IFRC (co-leads) | Geneva, Switzerland | 1 |
Issuing bodies are shown at the city of their public seat. The 1 programmes, 0 implementing repositories and 19 Nexus Standards have no location and are not mapped · 2 issuing bodies have no single public seat and are listed without a location: Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery; Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector
Standards globe15 issuing bodies with a public seat and 23 register entries, shown on H3 cells at resolutions 1 to 4. Seats are placed at city coordinates; programme areas, implementations and standards have no location and are not drawn. A static plate carrée map is shown where scripts are unavailable.
5 references from peer-reviewed and official publications cited in the area profile, linked at the publishers' own sites.
Recent peer-reviewed articles, preprints, datasets and reports on the subject of this area, retrieved at the time of reading from open scholarly metadata services (OpenAlex, Crossref, DataCite, Zenodo, arXiv, Europe PMC, OpenAIRE Graph) with search terms composed from the registry. Each work is listed with its authors, venue, year, type, open-access status and licence, and links to its DOI or landing page. Sources not yet enabled for live display on this site are listed for reference and are not queried.
Search termssea-level rise; storm surge; coastal erosion; marine heatwaves; ocean acidification; harmful algal blooms; CF Metadata Conventions; OGC Network Common Data Formcombined with: risk; hazard; early warning; resilience; vulnerability; impact; exposureDerived from the title of the area and the hazards in its profile, the NHS-1 hazards it names and the open standards it lists.
No source is enabled for live display on this site yet: the sources are listed for reference and none is queried. Once the publisher of record enables a source after its terms are reviewed, recent works are listed here. Metadata and links only: title, authors, venue, year, type, open-access status and licence as each source records them; works are listed for orientation, not reviewed or endorsed.
2 courses and 2 disciplines of Risk Academy (risksacademy.com) that teach the knowledge and methods of this area. Each course lists its level, stream and learning hours.
The correspondence between courses, disciplines and the Nexus Standards is maintained with Risk Academy and is subject to its academic review.
GCRI Canada, The Global Risks Forum (GRF), The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) and Risk Academy work on the subject of this area in distinct roles (research and evidence; governance, policy and convening; capital, finance and markets; education and training). Each entry states why it corresponds and the step it offers; each institution sets its own terms of participation.
Research and evidence
GCRI Canada
Research programmes that produce the observations, models and assessments these records describe.
Oceans and CoastsStudies sea level and coastal flood, marine ecosystems, fisheries, ports and island resilience.Apply to this programme therisk.globalAll programmes of GCRI CanadaGovernance, policy and convening
The Global Risks Forum (GRF)
Tracks that convene public authorities, researchers and institutions on the governance of shared risks.
Climate and Nature GovernanceExamines land and ocean governance and the institutions responsible for coastal adaptation.Join this track Diplomacy NexusConvenes dialogue on shared seas and the global commons across jurisdictions.Join this track globalriskforum.comAll tracks of The Global Risks ForumCapital, finance and markets
The Global Risks Alliance (GRA)
Industry programmes in which financial institutions build a shared understanding of systemic risk.
Reinsurance and CatastropheWorks on catastrophe models for coastal storm and surge losses and on protection gaps.Join this programme globalriskalliance.comAll programmes of The Global Risks AllianceEducation and training
Risk Academy
Courses and disciplines that teach the knowledge and methods practitioners need to apply these standards.
Biodiversity and EcosystemsRAF-104 · Introductory · 21.5 learning hoursNature as risk, nature as infrastructure, and nature in financial decisionsTake this course Cities and InfrastructureRAN-306 · Intermediate · 25 learning hoursUrban risk, informal settlements and the interdependent systems cities run onTake this course All courses and disciplinesListed in the education and training section of this pagePeer-reviewed articles, preprints, reports and datasets on the subject of this area, retrieved at the time of reading from open scholarly metadata services (OpenAlex and Crossref) and listed with authors, venue, year, type and access status, with a link to each work. Curated references and related standards are listed first; recent works matched by subject follow and are listed for orientation.
Search terms, derived from the title of the area and the hazards in its profile: sea-level rise; storm surge; coastal erosion; marine heatwaves; ocean acidification; harmful algal blooms; combined with: risk; hazard; early warning; resilience; vulnerability; impact; exposure. With JavaScript enabled, recent works matching these terms are listed from OpenAlex and Crossref.
Nexus Reports is the Consortium's quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.
Never send personal data, sensitive infrastructure detail or anything you have no right to share. A contribution is reviewed before use; sending it confers no authorship or editorial rights, and sponsorship never buys a finding.
Institutions and experts are invited to propose amendments, join the working group or propose data sources. National participation is organised through each country's National Nexus Consortium (NNC) and its National Working Groups (NWGs); competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
Status and use. The Nexus Standards are proposed standards developed through an open process under NS-13 and published for voluntary use; they do not constitute certification, accreditation or regulatory approval, and adoption remains a decision of the Global Standards Council and, in each country, of its National Standards Council. A UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) identifies an artifact; it does not certify it. Names of standards bodies and their standards belong to their stewards and are used only to identify the documents; no text of an external standard is reproduced here. Nexus Standards is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any standards body named here.
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