climate change and coastal wetlands presented by: sidrotun naim susanna pearlstein valerie herman...
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US Coastal and Marine Facts 95,000 miles of coastlines 3.4 million square miles of ocean 53% of US population live on the 17% of land in the coastal zones Global sea level rise: 4-8 inches in century Estimation: additional 19 inches by 2100TRANSCRIPT
Climate Change and Coastal Wetlands
Presented by: Sidrotun Naim
Susanna Pearlstein Valerie Herman
Matt Carter
Global Natural Disaster
US Coastal and Marine Facts
95,000 miles of coastlines3.4 million square miles of ocean53% of US population live on the 17% of land in
the coastal zonesGlobal sea level rise: 4-8 inches in centuryEstimation: additional 19 inches by 2100
How coastal and marine environments are linked to
our climate
Shoreline erosion and Human communities
Threats to Estuarine Health
Estuaries are extremely productive ecosystemsIncreased run-off would deliver increased
amounts of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus
Decreased run-off would reduce flushing, decrease the size of nursery zones, allowing predators to penetrate
Coastal Wetland Survival
Coral Reef Die Offs
Stresses on Marine Fisheries
Annual Shoreline Change
WetlandsChapter 11
Methane, CH4, emitters20-25% global emissions50% of world wetlands LOST, methane emissions
are increasing, anthropomorphic causes21 times more effective greenhouse gas than CO2
Carbon sequestration20-30% stored in wetlandsPeat depositsPermafrostRestored & created wetlands
Mid Atlantic Coastal (MAC) Region
Poor water qualityCoastal Squeeze
Heavily Populated!
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/coastal/index.html
Delaware Bay1.6% of DE lost
21% of marsh land flooded But<1% of affected area Is developed
Chesapeake BaySalt water marshes today lack
Sediment Oxygen Organic matter accumulation
Due to: Poor water quality
DamsFarmland abandonment
Now add climate change….
Most hypoxic estuary in MACFresh water marshes have high river sediment
influxesSteep topography, sea level rise will increase
erosion
Management & WarningsWetlands will be protected if they fall under
socially significant areas
Repeating the inland floodplain experienceFederal subsides for dynamic & hazardous zonesStructures to control hazards & sea level rise Increasing vulnerability
Chemical and Biological Changes
Extreme weather events and rising sea level alters:Salinity Ionic ExchangespHMicrobial CommunitiesOrganic and Inorganic Content
Nutrient ExchangesEarlier litterfall3 - 5 times as much N, Mg, P, KTransported during runoff /flooding Nutrient uptake is hindered by:
UprootingSwayingWater logging
Damages to Plants/Animals
“Woody vegetation” is damaged more than “herbaceous vegetation”
Breakage increases infestation Microbial community differs in aerobic and anaerobic
conditions Water quality directly affects food chain
Hypoxia Image from www.montgomerybotanical.org
Osmotic stress Turbidity Seed distribution Biodiversity
Mitigation
Hurricanes lose their force dramatically as the system moves toward land, therefore wetlands around coast regions provide delicate buffer
zones to slow the storm system down before it reaches more populated regions. The levees in New Orleans are causing dramatic wetland loss.
The levees built to prevent flooding in the cities also prevent recharge of coast wetlands of the Mississippi River Delta. The Delta is cut off from its life force and is being destroyed at a rate of 24 sq. miles a year. Over 1900 sq. miles have disappeared since the 1930s. As the wetlands decrease, the city becomes more and more vulnerable to hurricane without the precious buffer zone.
Fixing the problem is costly and time consuming. Old Christmas trees are strategically place around the delta to collect sediment, and 14 billion dollars is being used for manual sediment recharge and diversion of the Mississippi around the levees to recharge other areas of the delta.
Hurricanes are actually vital for wetland survival in that the storm surge washes and spreads all of the sediment, silt, and nutrients the wetlands of the delta could ever need. A hurricane of smaller proportions could easily do the work of all of the wetland projects.