Coastal marshes provide valuable protection for coastal communities from storm-induced wave, flood, and structural loss in a changing climate

Abstract

Wetlands such as tidal marshes and mangroves are known to buffer coastal communities from wave, flood, and structural loss during storms. Coastal communities and resource managers seek to understand the ecosystem service value of coastal wetlands for reducing storm-induced flood loss in a changing climate. A recent modeling study found that a tall and dense Phragmites-dominated Piermont Marsh reduced the flood loss in the Village of Piermont, New York, U.S.A. during Superstorm Sandy and the 1% annual chance flood and wave event by 8% and 11%, respectively. Here we used the same modeling approach to examine the marsh’s buffering capacity in a changing climate (from 2020 to 2100), considering a potential marsh restoration plan (from 2020 to 2025) and potential marsh loss due to sea-level rise. Results showed that from 2020 to 2100, the 1% annual chance flood, wave, and structural loss would increase due to sea-level rise, storms, and marsh loss. However, the marsh will buffer ~ 11–12% of structural loss until 2050. Under the extreme SLR scenario of 2.89 m and a low accretion rate, Piermont Marsh is expected to lose its buffering capacity by 2080–2100 but will retain some buffering capacity with a high accretion rate of 10 mm/year and marsh growth. The marsh’s buffering capacity will remain during extra-tropical storms during winter and spring unless the wind has a significant northerly component. Lessons learned from this study can be used by coastal communities and marsh managers to develop coastal resiliency and marsh restoration plan.

Cap. 21. Noreste. En: La Quinta Evaluación Nacional del Clima

“…Los NNBF utilizan sistemas de plantas o suelos para obtener beneficios medioambientales, económicos y sociales 39 . Varios estudios recientes centrados en Nueva Jersey, Nueva York y Connecticut enfatizan el papel de los NNBF en amortiguar pérdidas por inundaciones costeras 40,41 , detener y retener la escorrentía 42,43 , reducir los desbordamientos del alcantarillado combinado 44 , aliviar los impactos térmicos 45,46 e introducir vegetación resiliente a futuras inundaciones y sequías 47 . Los cambios en las precipitaciones también pueden reducir el desempeño de los NNBF en la captación de aguas pluviales 42,48,49 , y el valor de adaptación de los NNBF puede depender en gran medida de las condiciones locales particulares 50 .…”

The resistance of Georgia coastal marshes to hurricanes

“…Grassland ecosystems with short-stature, flexible vegetation may not be affected by storm-generated wind, and sheltered habitats may not be affected by waves (Leonardi et al, 2018). Documenting hurricane effects across a range of ecosystem types is important to fully understand their impacts, especially in coastal systems that often receive the most intense hurricane exposure as the storm comes ashore (Sheng et al, 2022).…”

Distribution and trophic functioning of planktonic communities in coastal marshes in Atlantic Coast of France

“…Some of the most common services are directly linked to the supply of human food resources, such as salt production, shellfish farming (Guillou, 1997;Leloup et al, 2008), and fisheries (Maltby, 1991). Moreover, coastal marshes can provide regulation services by forming a buffer zone against flooding of nearby inhabited areas (Sheng et al, 2022). They can also provide cultural services as recreational spaces for the human population (Ghermandi and Nunes, 2013) or provide refuge areas for migratory birds (Bradshaw et al, 2020).…”