Analysis of multi-decadal wetland changes, and cumulative impact of multiple storms 1984 to 2017

Douglas, Steven H.; Bernier, Julie C.; Smith, Kathryn

doi:10.1007/s11273-018-9635-6

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Compared with the use of static thresholds [37,81,82,84], dynamic histogram thresholds reduce classification uncertainties stemming from spectral variability related to changes in instrumentation and/or differences in atmospheric or seasonally-variable hydrologic and phenologic conditions between acquisition dates [95,96]. Further, the methods described here allow for rapid classification and delineation of barrier-island extents from a large number of source images relative to more time-consuming object-based [39,97], supervised [38], and unsupervised [35] classification techniques, which require training data to guide the classification and (or) "expert knowledge" to group similar clusters. Our resulting multi-decadal, high temporal resolution dataset provides a basis for better understanding the timing, nature, and potential drivers of landscape change [98] compared with assessments that quantify discrete changes between just a few points in time [38,39,91].…”

Section: Automatic Thresholding Of Mulitple Spectral Indices For Rapi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies often emphasize short-term changes induced by extreme storm events [14,15,23,[27][28][29] and most consider the sandy barrier-island (beach and dune) and back-barrier (marsh and tidal flat) environments separately. Recent studies, however, demonstrated the importance of whole-system connectivity to barrier morphology and evolution [30][31][32] and expanded the scope of historical analyses to consider the annual-to decadal-scale landscape evolution of barrier islands [33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent landscape-scale changes along the northern Chandeleur Islands using a consistent dataset and methodology to better understand temporal and spatial variability in barrier response to natural and anthropogenic disturbances over the past few decades, when we expect other drivers of barrier evolution (e.g., changes in oceanographic climate or SLR) are minimized. Despite the increasing availability of high-resolution multispectral satellite imagery in the last decade, medium-resolution (30-m pixel size) Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM; Landsat 5 mission), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+; Landsat 7) and Operational Land Imaging (OLI; Landsat 8) imagery continue to be used for local-to global-scale land-cover classification and change analyses [35,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] since the imagery is freely available and provides a consistent, long-term (since 1984), high temporal resolution (16-day repeat cycle) and multispectral data source. Recently, automated processing of Landsat data has also been applied to extract satellite-derived shoreline positions and assess shoreline-and morphologic-change trends [54][55][56][57][58].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Satellite-Derived Barrier Response and Recovery Following Natural and Anthropogenic Perturbations, Northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana

2021

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The magnitude and frequency of storm events, relative sea-level rise (RSLR), sediment supply, and anthropogenic alterations drive the morphologic evolution of barrier island systems, although the relative importance of any one driver will vary with the spatial and temporal scales considered. To explore the relative contributions of storms and human alterations to sediment supply on decadal changes in barrier landscapes, we applied Otsu’s thresholding method to multiple satellite-derived spectral indices for coastal land-cover classification and analyzed Landsat satellite imagery to quantify changes to the northern Chandeleur Islands barrier system since 1984. This high temporal-resolution dataset shows decadal-scale land-cover oscillations related to storm–recovery cycles, suggesting that shorter and (or) less resolved time series are biased toward storm impacts and may significantly overpredict land-loss rates and the timing of barrier morphologic state changes. We demonstrate that, historically, vegetation extent and persistence were the dominant controls on alongshore-variable landscape response and recovery following storms, and are even more important than human-mediated sediment input. As a result of extensive vegetation losses over the past few decades, however, the northern Chandeleur Islands are transitioning to a new morphologic state in which the landscape is dominated by intertidal environments, indicating reduced resilience to future storms and possibly rapid transitions in morphologic state with increasing rates of RSLR.

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Section: Automatic Thresholding Of Mulitple Spectral Indices For Rapi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Satellite-Derived Barrier Response and Recovery Following Natural and Anthropogenic Perturbations, Northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana

2021

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“…These damages, combined with the stress caused by the increased soil salinity, can lead to mortality of the stressed stand [66,71,89]. The repercussions of these storm events increase dramatically if more than one storm occurs in successive years [90].…”

Section: Soil Salinity and Severe Stormsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal Forest Dieback in the Northeast USA: Potential Mechanisms and Management Responses

et al. 2023

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A number of studies have documented coastal forest dieback as a historical and ongoing process across the Northeast US region. To further develop a current understanding of the state of knowledge, review adaptation and response measures available to land managers, and to identify research and management needs, we conducted a literature review, interviewed experts, and convened a workshop bringing together scientists and land managers. A synthesis of the above suggests that the most important proximate mechanisms driving coastal forest dieback in the Northeast US are sea level rise-induced changes in the groundwater table in concert with increased saltwater inundation related to storm surges. What sets our conceptual model apart from prior work is the greater emphasis placed on the role of rising fresh groundwater levels in increasingly stressing the forest vegetation and decreasing regeneration potential. Episodic storm surges often exceed the salinity or saturation tolerances of existing trees leading to a wave of mortality that leaves the site inhospitable to subsequent regeneration. Maintaining functioning coastal forests across the Northeast US will require that the marsh and forest ecosystems be considered as an integrated unit when determining an appropriate adaptation response. With a better understanding of each of the sea level rise-induced mechanisms at work in these ecosystems, managers may be better prepared for the changes ahead and facilitate proactive adaptation strategies. Easements or buyouts are vital to ensure that there is ample space for the marsh and upland systems to migrate landward together. Forward thinking land use planning is needed to promote the “no net loss” of both marsh and coastal forest ecosystems to ensure the continued provision of their vital services to society.

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“…Although remote sensing offers a way to assess and monitor large-scale changes in vegetation following storm events (e.g. Carter et al, 2018;Douglas et al, 2018;Stagg et al, 2020), elucidating how saltwater flooding, mechanical damage, litter accumulation and sediments affect the plant community is challenging. There is, however, a relatively large body of research describing the (species-specific) effects of burial by sediments on sand dune species (Sykes and Wilson, 1988;Harris et al, 2017; High mortality of Floridian 'freshwater forest' species.…”

Section: Supra-tidal Plant Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The gathering storm: optimizing management of coastal ecosystems in the face of a climate-driven threat

2019

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Background The combination of rising sea levels and increased likelihood of extreme storm events poses a major threat to our coastlines and as a result, many ecosystems recognized and valued for their important contribution to coastal defence face increased damage from erosion and flooding. Nevertheless, only recently have we begun to examine how plant species and communities, respond to, and recover from, the many disturbances associated with storm events. Scope We review how the threats posed by a combination of sea level rise and storms affects coastal sub-, inter- and supra-tidal plant communities. We consider ecophysiological impacts at the level of the individual plant, but also how ecological interactions at the community level, and responses at landscape scale, inform our understanding of how and why an increasing frequency and intensity of storm damage are vital to effective coastal management. While noting how research is centred on the impact of hurricanes in the US Gulf region, we take a global perspective and consider how ecosystems worldwide (e.g. seagrass, kelp forests, sand dunes, saltmarsh and mangroves) respond to storm damage and contribute to coastal defence. Conclusions The threats posed by storms to coastal plant communities are undoubtedly severe, but, beyond this obvious conclusion, we highlight four research priority areas. These call for studies focusing on (1) how storm disturbance affects plant reproduction and recruitment; (2) plant response to the multiple stressors associated with anthropogenic climate change and storm events; (3) the role of ecosystem-level interactions in dictating post-disturbance recovery; and (4) models and long-term monitoring to better predict where and how storms and other climate change-driven phenomena impact coastal ecosystems and services. In so doing, we argue how plant scientists must work with geomorphologists and environmental agencies to protect the unique biodiversity and pivotal contribution to coastal defence delivered by maritime plant communities.

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Analysis of multi-decadal wetland changes, and cumulative impact of multiple storms 1984 to 2017

Cited by 5 publications

References 80 publications

Satellite-Derived Barrier Response and Recovery Following Natural and Anthropogenic Perturbations, Northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana

Satellite-Derived Barrier Response and Recovery Following Natural and Anthropogenic Perturbations, Northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana

Coastal Forest Dieback in the Northeast USA: Potential Mechanisms and Management Responses

The gathering storm: optimizing management of coastal ecosystems in the face of a climate-driven threat

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