Though there is widespread agreement that Spartina a]terniflora marshes absorb some wave energy, there is considerable question regarding the magnitude and importance of this process. It has been suggested that marshes are much like an array of vertical cyllnders in a water column. Based upon empirical estimates oF the fluid drag forces occurring on vertical cylinders and laboratory observations of various arrays of cylinders, a model was developed to describe wave decay in marshes.In 1981, a series of field experiments were conducted to test and calibrate this empirical model in a series of natural S. alterniflora marshes. The model with some modification was found to be very useful for describing wave decay in coastal marshes.
Research on erosion control with vegetation by the Coastal EngineeringResearch Center (CERC) demonstrated that salt marsh plantings help dissipate wave energy causing deposition of sediments. These processes can convert eroding environments into depositional environments producing shore advancement.To evaluate the impact of shoreline plantings in oligohaline coastal environments, a 30 meter segment of a planting was monitored over an eight-year period.Within five years, erosion ceased, and at least 20 additional species of plants had invaded the study site.
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