The Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
We have developed the first remote sensing model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon (C) stocks for the conterminous United States (CONUS). This model was created using the first national-scale dataset of aboveground tidal marsh biomass and species composition and aboveground plant C content from six CONUS regions: Cape Cod, MA, Chesapeake Bay, MD, Everglades, FL, Mississippi Delta, LA, San Francisco Bay, CA, and Puget Sound, WA. Through data synthesis, modeling and uncertainty analysis we provide a repeatable remote sensing method that will enable aboveground tidal marsh C stocks to be included in the Coastal Wetlands section of the U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Information on C stocks will also help to verify emission reductions for coastal wetland restoration and conservation projects included in the voluntary C markets such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). With the increased availability of free post-processed Landsat satellite data, we provide a tractable means of modeling tidal marsh aboveground biomass and C at the global extent as well. This project was funded by the NASA Carbon Monitoring System (Lead PI Lisamarie Windham-Myers), the USGS Land Change Science Program and the USGS LandCarbon Program.
Nisqually River Delta Historical Vegetation Change
As part of a larger project to assess multiple benefits of coastal wetland restoration, we quantified historical vegetation change within the Nisqually River watershed relevant to carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and wetland sustainability, and identified watershed-scale human and hydrodynamic drivers of these changes. To achieve this, we produced time-series classifications of habitat, photosynthetic pathway functional types and species in the Nisqually River Delta for the years 1957, 1980, and 2015. While there was a 188 ha increase in emergent marsh wetland within the Nisqually River Delta between 1957 and 2015 as a result of restoration efforts, there was a 83 ha loss of marsh that occurred in areas near the Nisqually River mouth due to erosion and shifting river channels. This work is part of a larger project to assess multiple benefits of coastal wetland restoration titled, From Food Webs to Marshes (Lead PI Isa Woo). This project is funded by the USGS LandCarbon Program.
For more information see Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing.
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Tidal marsh biomass field plot and remote sensing datasets for six regions in the conterminous United States
Below are publications under the Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon project.
A remote sensing-based model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon stocks for the conterminous United States
A remote sensing-based model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon stocks for the conterminous United States
A hybrid model for mapping relative differences in belowground biomass and root: Shoot ratios using spectral reflectance, foliar N and plant biophysical data within coastal marsh
Prospective HyspIRI global observations of tidal wetlands
Evaluation of sensor types and environmental controls on mapping biomass of coastal marsh emergent vegetation
Remotely-sensed indicators of N-related biomass allocation in Schoenoplectus acutus
Below are partners and collorators with the Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon project.
- Overview
The Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon research described below is conducted and managed under the USGS Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing project and partners.
Tidal marsh aboveground carbon density maps of six study regions, based on the final biomass model and plant percent carbon content data (Byrd et al. 2018, ISPRS). Moving from top, left to right: San Francisco Bay, CA, Cape Cod, MA, Everglades, FL, Nisqually NWR, WA, Chesapeake Bay, MD, Terrebonne and St. Mary Parishes, LA. (Credit: Kristin Byrd, USGS. Public domain.) We have developed the first remote sensing model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon (C) stocks for the conterminous United States (CONUS). This model was created using the first national-scale dataset of aboveground tidal marsh biomass and species composition and aboveground plant C content from six CONUS regions: Cape Cod, MA, Chesapeake Bay, MD, Everglades, FL, Mississippi Delta, LA, San Francisco Bay, CA, and Puget Sound, WA. Through data synthesis, modeling and uncertainty analysis we provide a repeatable remote sensing method that will enable aboveground tidal marsh C stocks to be included in the Coastal Wetlands section of the U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Information on C stocks will also help to verify emission reductions for coastal wetland restoration and conservation projects included in the voluntary C markets such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). With the increased availability of free post-processed Landsat satellite data, we provide a tractable means of modeling tidal marsh aboveground biomass and C at the global extent as well. This project was funded by the NASA Carbon Monitoring System (Lead PI Lisamarie Windham-Myers), the USGS Land Change Science Program and the USGS LandCarbon Program.
Nisqually River Delta Historical Vegetation Change
As part of a larger project to assess multiple benefits of coastal wetland restoration, we quantified historical vegetation change within the Nisqually River watershed relevant to carbon storage, wildlife habitat, and wetland sustainability, and identified watershed-scale human and hydrodynamic drivers of these changes. To achieve this, we produced time-series classifications of habitat, photosynthetic pathway functional types and species in the Nisqually River Delta for the years 1957, 1980, and 2015. While there was a 188 ha increase in emergent marsh wetland within the Nisqually River Delta between 1957 and 2015 as a result of restoration efforts, there was a 83 ha loss of marsh that occurred in areas near the Nisqually River mouth due to erosion and shifting river channels. This work is part of a larger project to assess multiple benefits of coastal wetland restoration titled, From Food Webs to Marshes (Lead PI Isa Woo). This project is funded by the USGS LandCarbon Program.
For more information see Applied Landscape Ecology and Remote Sensing.
A habitat map of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge 2015 habitat classification (Credit: Laurel Ballanti, USGS. Public domain.) - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Tidal marsh biomass field plot and remote sensing datasets for six regions in the conterminous United States
Remote sensing based maps of tidal marshes, both of their extents and carbon stocks, have the potential to play a key role in conducting greenhouse gas inventories and implementing climate mitigation policies. Our objective was to generate a single remote sensing model of tidal marsh aboveground biomass and carbon that represents nationally diverse tidal marshes within the conterminous United Stat - Publications
Below are publications under the Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon project.
A remote sensing-based model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon stocks for the conterminous United States
Remote sensing based maps of tidal marshes, both of their extents and carbon stocks, have the potential to play a key role in conducting greenhouse gas inventories and implementing climate mitigation policies. Our objective was to generate a single remote sensing model of tidal marsh aboveground biomass and carbon that represents nationally diverse tidal marshes within the conterminous United StatAuthorsKristin B. Byrd, Laurel Ballanti, Nathan Thomas, Dung Nguyen, James R. Holmquist, Marc Simard, Lisamarie Windham-MyersA remote sensing-based model of tidal marsh aboveground carbon stocks for the conterminous United States
Remote sensing based maps of tidal marshes, both of their extents and carbon stocks, have the potential to play a key role in conducting greenhouse gas inventories and implementing climate mitigation policies. Our objective was to generate a single remote sensing model of tidal marsh aboveground biomass and carbon that represents nationally diverse tidal marshes within the conterminous United StatAuthorsKristin B. Byrd, Laurel Ballanti, Nathan Thomas, Dung Nguyen, James R. Holmquist, Marc Simard, Lisamarie Windham-MyersA hybrid model for mapping relative differences in belowground biomass and root: Shoot ratios using spectral reflectance, foliar N and plant biophysical data within coastal marsh
Broad-scale estimates of belowground biomass are needed to understand wetland resiliency and C and N cycling, but these estimates are difficult to obtain because root:shoot ratios vary considerably both within and between species. We used remotely-sensed estimates of two aboveground plant characteristics, aboveground biomass and % foliar N to explore biomass allocation in low diversity freshwaterAuthorsJessica L. O'Connell, Kristin B. Byrd, Maggi KellyProspective HyspIRI global observations of tidal wetlands
Tidal wetlands are highly productive and act as critical habitat for a wide variety of plants, fish, shellfish, and other wildlife. These ecotones between aquatic and terrestrial environments also provide protection from storm damage, run-off filtering, and recharge of aquifers. Many wetlands along coasts have been exposed to stress-inducing alterations globally, including dredge and fill operatioAuthorsKevin Turpie, Victor Klemas, Kristin B. Byrd, Maggi Kelly, Young-Heon JoEvaluation of sensor types and environmental controls on mapping biomass of coastal marsh emergent vegetation
There is a need to quantify large-scale plant productivity in coastal marshes to understand marsh resilience to sea level rise, to help define eligibility for carbon offset credits, and to monitor impacts from land use, eutrophication and contamination. Remote monitoring of aboveground biomass of emergent wetland vegetation will help address this need. Differences in sensor spatial resolution, banAuthorsKristin B. Byrd, Jessica L. O'Connell, Stefania Di Tommaso, Maggi KellyRemotely-sensed indicators of N-related biomass allocation in Schoenoplectus acutus
Coastal marshes depend on belowground biomass of roots and rhizomes to contribute to peat and soil organic carbon, accrete soil and alleviate flooding as sea level rises. For nutrient-limited plants, eutrophication has either reduced or stimulated belowground biomass depending on plant biomass allocation response to fertilization. Within a freshwater wetland impoundment receiving minimal sedimentsAuthorsJessica L. O’Connell, Kristin B. Byrd, Maggi Kelly - Partners
Below are partners and collorators with the Coastal Wetland Blue Carbon project.