Wetland
Sedimentation and Change
In more protected
shoreline areas, vegetation can thrive along the shoreline; in temperate zones
this includes salt marshes and swamp forests, while in the tropics, mangroves
are found, This ecologically productive zone provides a key food source for
estuarine and ocean food webs. With
human development and climate- variations, wetlands are being affected, and
this may have cascading influences on marine systems. We are studying wetlands in North Carolina
and elsewhere around the world to help understand and manage these changes.
Lagomasino, D., D.R. Corbett, J.P. Walsh. 2013. Influence of Wind-Driven Inundation and Coastal Geomorphology on Sedimentation in Two Microtidal Marshes, Pamlico River Estuary, NC. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science. 36 (6) 1165-1180; DOI 10.1007/s12237-013-9625-0.
Shearman, P., Bryan, J., and J.P. Walsh. 2013. Evidence for extensive losses in large deltaic systems of the Asia-Pacific region. Journal of Coastal Research, 29: 1169-1183.
Kemp, A., B.P. Horton, C.H. Vane, C.E. Bernhardt, D.R. Corbett, S.E. Englehart, S.C. Anisfeld, A.C. Parnell and N. Cahill. Sea-level change during the last 2500 years in New Jersey, USA. Quaternary Science Reviews. 81, 90-104.
Featured Project: Mapping estuarine shoreline change in North
Carolina
Coastlines are constantly changing due to both natural and
anthropogenic forces. Climate change and
associated sea level rise will undoubtedly reshape our coasts. No longer are oceanfronts the only concern of
short-term shoreline change. Shoreline
dynamics along more sheltered estuaries have gained attention and are needed to
better understand and protect coastal resources. Recognizing and understanding the complex
causes and dynamic processes involved in shoreline erosion and shorezone
alteration, including the ensuing ecological change in state and function is
necessary to minimize the erosion impacts and managing our shoreline resources
and economic investments.
Over 97% of the North Carolina shoreline is
non-oceanfront (i.e., estuarine), and it is changing in response to storm
waves, water levels and human activities. At present, we have a limited
understanding of how coastal areas and habitats are evolving. Our research is
focused on measuring the rate of shoreline change and the ecological effects of sea-level rise on the shorezone. Analysis of estuarine shoreline change
and the influencing parameters in these complex systems offers insight on
future changes and information useful for management practices.
