Saltmarsh loss in southeastern North Carolina Lagoons: importance of sea level rise and inlet dredging
Journal Article
·
· J. Coast. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6181309
Salt marshes can maintain themselves during periods of relative sea level (RSL) rise through accumulation of autochthonous plant biomass and by capturing sediments. Lagoonal salt marshes in southeastern North Carolina accumulate 358 g m/sup 2/yr/sup -1/ of roots and rhizomes within their sediments. At an average bulk density of 0.3 g cm/sup -3/ the marsh can vertically accrete 1.2 mm yr/sup -1/. The average RSL rise for the past 40 years was 1.9 mm yr/sup -1/, thus these salt marshes cannot maintain themselves through autochthonous production alone. Large quantities of sand are available to these marshes through inlets and historical data show that marshes disappeared when this sediment source was eliminated. The predicted increase in the rate of RSL and the removal of large quantities of sand for beach renourishment on developed barrier islands may significantly hasten the drowning and disappearance of large areas of salt marsh in the lagoons of southeastern North Carolina.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of North Carolina, Wilmington
- OSTI ID:
- 6181309
- Journal Information:
- J. Coast. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Coast. Res.; (United States) Vol. 3:1; ISSN JCRSE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tipping points of Mississippi Delta marshes due to accelerated sea-level rise
Taphonomy of coral reefs from Southern Lagoon of Belize
Impact of sea level rise don the sedimentology and stratigraphy of estuarine systems
Journal Article
·
Fri May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2020
· Science Advances
·
OSTI ID:1817157
Taphonomy of coral reefs from Southern Lagoon of Belize
Conference
·
Thu Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1985
· Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5624545
Impact of sea level rise don the sedimentology and stratigraphy of estuarine systems
Conference
·
Sun Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1988
· AAPG Bull.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5872300