Sea-Level Rise Impact on a Salt Marsh System of the Lower St. Johns River

    Authors

    S. C. Hagen; J. T. Morris; P. Bacopoulos;J. F. Weishampel

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at [email protected]

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Waterw. Port Coast. Ocean Eng.

    Keywords

    Climate change; Sea level rise; Sustainability; Salt marsh; Spartina; alterniflora; Standing biomass density; Hydroperiod; Mean low water; Mean high water; Lower St. Johns River; ELEVATION; ESTUARIES; TRENDS; Engineering, Civil; Engineering, Ocean; Water Resources

    Abstract

    The impact of sea-level rise on salt marsh sustainability is examined for the lower St. Johns River and associated salt marsh (Spartina alterniflora) system. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, forced by tides and sea-level rise, is coupled with a zero-dimensional marsh model to estimate the level of biomass productivity of S. alterniflora across the salt marsh landscape for present day and anticipated future conditions (i.e., when subjected to sea-level rise). The hydrodynamic model results show mean low water (MLW) to be highly spatially variable with a SD of +/- 0.18 m and mean high water (MHW) to be less spatially variable with a SD +/- 0.03 m. The spatial variability of MLW and MHW is particularly evident within the tidal creeks of the salt marsh. MLW and MHW are sensitive to sea-level rise and respond in a nonlinear fashion (i.e., MLW and MHW elevate by an amount that is not proportional to the level of sea-level rise). The coupled hydrodynamic-marsh model results illustrate the spatial heterogeneity of biomass productivity and indicate marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise. The model is then used to demonstrate an application of engineered accretion that can help sustain a marsh that is exposed to sea-level rise. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WW.1943-5460.0000177. (C) 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Waterway Port Coastal and Ocean Engineering

    Volume

    139

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    118

    Last Page

    125

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000316871900005

    ISSN

    0733-950X

    Share

    COinS
     

    Accessibility Statement

    This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.