Vulnerability of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands to present-day rates of relative sea-level rise

Jankowski, Krista L.; Törnqvist, Torbjörn E.; Fernandes, Anjali M.

doi:10.1038/ncomms14792

Vulnerability of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands to present-day rates of relative sea-level rise

Journal Article · Tue Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14792· OSTI ID:1623880

Jankowski, Krista L. ^[1]; Törnqvist, Torbjörn E. ^[2]; ^[2]

Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States). Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences; DOE/OSTI
Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States). Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Coastal Louisiana has lost about 5,000 km² of wetlands over the past century and concern exists whether remaining wetlands will persist while facing some of the world’s highest rates of relative sea-level rise (RSLR). Here we analyse an unprecedented data set derived from 274 rod surface-elevation table-marker horizon stations, to determine present-day surface-elevation change, vertical accretion and shallow subsidence rates. Comparison of vertical accretion rates with RSLR rates at the land surface (present-day RSLR rates are 12±8 mm per year) shows that 65% of wetlands in the Mississippi Delta (SE Louisiana) may keep pace with RSLR, whereas 58% of the sites in the Chenier Plain (SW Louisiana) do not, rendering much of this area highly vulnerable to RLSR. At least 60% of the total subsidence rate occurs within the uppermost 5–10 m, which may account for the higher vulnerability of coastal Louisiana wetlands compared to their counterparts elsewhere.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States). Dept. of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0006700

OSTI ID:: 1623880

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 8; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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