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Quantifying the effects of sea level rise driven marsh migration on wave attenuation
Felicio Cassalho1, Andre de S de Lima2, Celso M Ferreira1
1Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
Sea level rise impacts coastal wetlands, but elevation changes, not just marsh migration, significantly reduce flood impacts. Considering these factors together enhances wave attenuation predictions for climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Climate Change Research
- Coastal Geomorphology
Background:
- Sea level rise (SLR) poses a significant threat to coastal wetlands, altering landscapes through marsh migration.
- Marsh migration involves horizontal land cover and vertical elevation changes, impacting coastal processes.
- The effect of these transformations on saltmarsh wave attenuation remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze spatially distributed wave attenuation by vegetation under climate change.
- To investigate the independent and synergistic effects of sea level rise, marsh migration, and elevation changes on wave attenuation.
Main Methods:
- Spatially distributed analysis of wave attenuation.
- Modeling of vegetation effects on wave energy dissipation.
- Integration of sea level rise, marsh migration, and elevation change data.
Main Results:
- Changes in saltmarsh cover minimally affect flood attenuation.
- Elevation changes significantly reduce flood extents and water depths.
- Marsh migration directly influences overland wave heights.
- Elevation-driven water depth changes indirectly attenuate waves.
- Saltmarsh accretion primarily enhances wave attenuation near the marsh edge through wave breaking.
- Synergistic effects of SLR, marsh migration, and elevation yield greater wave attenuation than individual factors.
Conclusions:
- Vertical land-surface elevation changes are critical for reducing flood impacts in coastal wetlands.
- Accurate wave attenuation modeling requires integrating sea level rise, marsh migration, and elevation dynamics.
- Future coastal adaptation strategies must consider these combined factors for effective risk management.
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