Groundwater, soil moisture, light and weather data collected in a coastal forest bordering a salt marsh in the...

Data presented in this paper were collected in eight sites across a coastal forest in the Delmarva Peninsula, VA USA. The sites, located along transects from the marshland to the inner forest, are representative of the progressive forest retreat and the consequent marsh expansion driven by sea level rise. The sites are divided in marsh, transition zone where marsh vegetation is invading the forest, low forest, where tree dieback is widespread, intermediate forest (medium forest), where trees show signs of stress, and high forest, where trees are healthy. Sea level rise and storm surge events are the drivers of the forest conversion to salt marsh. Groundwater level and electrical conductivity were measured in a well at each site. Soil water content and electrical conductivity data were measured in the first 7-cm layer of soil. Weather and light data were collected to determine the effects of external inputs on groundwater and soil moisture datasets and to relate hydrological variables and illuminance to local ecology. Data collected are fundamental to estimate feedbacks between hydrology and ecology in the study area and to quantify forest retreat due to flooding and salinization.