Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Coastal wetlands provide many ecosystem services. In addition to providing critical habitat for fish and wildlife, coastal wetlands improve water quality, store carbon, protect coastal communities from storms by reducing wave energy, and provide recreational and educational opportunities. Coastal wetlands also support commercially and culturally important fisheries. However, in the face of climate change and accelerated sea-level rise, there is concern that these ecosystem services may not be available for future generations. There is a pressing need for information that can be used by coastal managers and scientists to better anticipate and prepare for future changes to coastal wetlands and adjacent upland and estuarine ecosystems.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Due to their position at the land-water interface, coastal wetlands are highly vulnerable to changes in inundation, salinity, land use, and climate. In recent decades, USGS research has greatly advanced understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands, especially within research hotspots along the Chesapeake Bay, Greater Everglades, northern Gulf of Mexico, San Francisco Estuary, Puget Sound, and Great Lakes regions. This project will integrate and synthesize regional knowledge at the national scale to advance understanding of: (1) the ecological thresholds that govern coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise and climate change in varying geographical regions; (2) the ecosystem transformations that are expected in coastal wetlands when ecological thresholds are crossed due to climate change and rising sea levels; (3) the national and regional-scale data needs and modeling approaches for quantifying, monitoring, and predicting coastal thresholds and transformations due to climate change and sea-level rise; and (4) the management actions being used to Resist, Accept, or Direct (RAD) the transformation of coastal wetlands due to climate change and sea-level rise in varying geographies. The project team includes 18 USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States (Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and Great Lakes).
Future Steps: This work will help coastal managers and scientists better anticipate and prepare for the effects of climate change and sea-level rise on coastal wetlands.
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
The Science Issue and Relevance: Coastal wetlands provide many ecosystem services. In addition to providing critical habitat for fish and wildlife, coastal wetlands improve water quality, store carbon, protect coastal communities from storms by reducing wave energy, and provide recreational and educational opportunities. Coastal wetlands also support commercially and culturally important fisheries. However, in the face of climate change and accelerated sea-level rise, there is concern that these ecosystem services may not be available for future generations. There is a pressing need for information that can be used by coastal managers and scientists to better anticipate and prepare for future changes to coastal wetlands and adjacent upland and estuarine ecosystems.
Methodology for Addressing the Issue: Due to their position at the land-water interface, coastal wetlands are highly vulnerable to changes in inundation, salinity, land use, and climate. In recent decades, USGS research has greatly advanced understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands, especially within research hotspots along the Chesapeake Bay, Greater Everglades, northern Gulf of Mexico, San Francisco Estuary, Puget Sound, and Great Lakes regions. This project will integrate and synthesize regional knowledge at the national scale to advance understanding of: (1) the ecological thresholds that govern coastal wetland responses to sea-level rise and climate change in varying geographical regions; (2) the ecosystem transformations that are expected in coastal wetlands when ecological thresholds are crossed due to climate change and rising sea levels; (3) the national and regional-scale data needs and modeling approaches for quantifying, monitoring, and predicting coastal thresholds and transformations due to climate change and sea-level rise; and (4) the management actions being used to Resist, Accept, or Direct (RAD) the transformation of coastal wetlands due to climate change and sea-level rise in varying geographies. The project team includes 18 USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States (Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and Great Lakes).
Future Steps: This work will help coastal managers and scientists better anticipate and prepare for the effects of climate change and sea-level rise on coastal wetlands.