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Environmental Geochemistry

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By Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center November 8, 2018

Hydrologic Restoration in Coastal Wetlands Enhances Climate Change Mitigation Benefits

Learn more

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries, with the goal of providing data and guidance to federal, state, local, and private land owners and managers on these vital ecosystems.

Journal Article

small hole in the ground surrounded by grass

Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands

Read article

Data Release

Photograph of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod

Nearshore groundwater seepage and geochemical data measured in 2015 at Guinea Creek, Rehoboth Bay, Delaware

Download Data

Research Themes

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries.

Media
a woman scientist in a baseball hat standing in a marsh holding a long piece of equipment
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Meagan Eagle, Research Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, collects an elevation point along the edge of Quivett Creek in Brewster, MA. This salt marsh was restored in 2005 by replacing a narrow culvert to allow full tidal flow once again. Elevation is an important measurement in tidal wetlands, allowing scientists to understand where the wetland platform is in relation to sea level. Here elevation combined with soil core data was used to determine how the restored marsh grew over the past century. Along with enhanced soil accretion, more carbon is stored in this restored marsh today than while it was disconnected from the sea. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Meagan Gonneea checks on instruments at a tidal creek in Great Pond, Falmouth, MA

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
Learn More

Data releases associated with the Environmental Geochemistry Project.

Filter Total Items: 18
No Result Found

Environmental Geochemistry Project mulitmedia objects

Filter Total Items: 22
No results found.

Environmental Geochemistry Project publications

Filter Total Items: 71

Plant biomass and rates of carbon dioxide uptake are enhanced by successful restoration of tidal connectivity in salt marshes Plant biomass and rates of carbon dioxide uptake are enhanced by successful restoration of tidal connectivity in salt marshes

Salt marshes, due to their capability to bury soil carbon (C), are potentially important regional C sinks. Efforts to restore tidal flow to former salt marshes have increased in recent decades in New England (USA), as well as in some other parts of the world. In this study, we investigated plant biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes at four sites where restoration of tidal flow...
Authors
Fanning Wang, Meagan J. Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Amanda C. Spivak, Jianwu Tang
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

An important biogeochemical link between organic and inorganic carbon cycling: Effects of organic alkalinity on carbonate chemistry in coastal waters influenced by intertidal salt marshes An important biogeochemical link between organic and inorganic carbon cycling: Effects of organic alkalinity on carbonate chemistry in coastal waters influenced by intertidal salt marshes

Organic acid charge groups in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contribute to total alkalinity (TA), i.e. organic alkalinity (OrgAlk). Its effect is often ignored or treated as a calculation uncertainty in many aquatic CO2 studies. This study evaluated the variability, sources, and characteristics of OrgAlk in estuarine waters exchanged tidally with a groundwater-influenced salt marsh in...
Authors
Shuzhen Song, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Sophie N. Chu, Daoji Li, Haorui Liang
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Getting to the core of the matter Getting to the core of the matter

The topic of carbon sequestration in coastal salt marshes can serve as the basis of an investigation story line with plenty of authentic relevance and drama! Consider establishing the context with students as an introduction to this lesson. Many resources for teaching about carbon uptake and sequestration in coastal wetlands can be found at the Bringing Wetlands to Market website. Some...
Authors
Meagan Gonneea Eagle
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Tidal wetland gross primary production across the continental United States, 2000–2019 Tidal wetland gross primary production across the continental United States, 2000–2019

We mapped tidal wetland gross primary production (GPP) with unprecedented detail for multiple wetland types across the continental United States (CONUS) at 16‐day intervals for the years 2000–2019. To accomplish this task, we developed the spatially explicit Blue Carbon (BC) model, which combined tidal wetland cover and field‐based eddy covariance tower data into a single Bayesian...
Authors
R.A. Feagin, I. Forbrich, T. P. Huff, J.G. Barr, J. Ruiz-Plancarte, J.D. Fuentes, R.G. Najjar, R. Vargas, A. Vazquez Lule, L. Windham-Myers, Kevin D. Kroeger, E. J. Ward, G. W. Moore, M. Leclerc, K. W. Krauss, C.L. Stagg, M. Alber, S. H. Knox, K. V. R. Schafer, T.S. Bianchi, J. A. Hutchings, H. Nahrawi, A. Noormets, B. Mitra, A. Jaimes, A.L. Hinson, Brian A. Bergamaschi, J.S. King, G. Miao
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, California Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Phytoplankton community structure response to groundwater-borne nutrients in the inland bays, Delaware Phytoplankton community structure response to groundwater-borne nutrients in the inland bays, Delaware

To determine the impacts of groundwater-borne nutrients on phytoplankton biomass and community structure, we conducted a series of mesocosm experiments in the Inland Bays of Delaware. Four treatments were tested, including mesocosms coupled directly to submarine groundwater seepage, mesocosms with the addition of pumped submarine groundwater, mesocosms with the addition of phosphate, and...
Authors
Daniel Torre, Kathryn Coyne, Kevin D. Kroeger, Joanna K. York
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Water salinity and inundation control soil carbon decomposition during salt marsh restoration: An incubation experiment Water salinity and inundation control soil carbon decomposition during salt marsh restoration: An incubation experiment

Coastal wetlands are a significant carbon (C) sink since they store carbon in anoxic soils. This ecosystem service is impacted by hydrologic alteration and management of these coastal habitats. Efforts to restore tidal flow to former salt marshes have increased in recent decades and are generally associated with alteration of water inundation levels and salinity. This study examined the...
Authors
Faming Wang, Kevin D. Kroeger, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, John W. Pohlman, Jianwu Tang
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries, with the goal of providing data and guidance to federal, state, local, and private land owners and managers on these vital ecosystems.

Journal Article

small hole in the ground surrounded by grass

Soil carbon consequences of historic hydrologic impairment and recent restoration in coastal wetlands

Read article

Data Release

Photograph of a tidally restricted wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod

Nearshore groundwater seepage and geochemical data measured in 2015 at Guinea Creek, Rehoboth Bay, Delaware

Download Data

Research Themes

Coastal Environmental Geochemistry research at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center spans multiple ecosystems and topics, including coastal wetlands, aquifers, and estuaries.

Media
a woman scientist in a baseball hat standing in a marsh holding a long piece of equipment
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Meagan Eagle, Research Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, collects an elevation point along the edge of Quivett Creek in Brewster, MA. This salt marsh was restored in 2005 by replacing a narrow culvert to allow full tidal flow once again. Elevation is an important measurement in tidal wetlands, allowing scientists to understand where the wetland platform is in relation to sea level. Here elevation combined with soil core data was used to determine how the restored marsh grew over the past century. Along with enhanced soil accretion, more carbon is stored in this restored marsh today than while it was disconnected from the sea. 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

Meagan Gonneea checks on instruments at a tidal creek in Great Pond, Falmouth, MA

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Environmental Geochemistry- Wetland Resilience

Tidal wetlands are key ecosystems because they are unique ecological systems that provide essential habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other fauna and flora, many of which have great economic importance. At the same time, tidal wetlands provide critical services to society by serving as a physical barrier between our cities, roads and homes and the rising sea. If healthy and properly managed...
Learn More

Data releases associated with the Environmental Geochemistry Project.

Filter Total Items: 18
No Result Found

Environmental Geochemistry Project mulitmedia objects

Filter Total Items: 22
No results found.

Environmental Geochemistry Project publications

Filter Total Items: 71

Plant biomass and rates of carbon dioxide uptake are enhanced by successful restoration of tidal connectivity in salt marshes Plant biomass and rates of carbon dioxide uptake are enhanced by successful restoration of tidal connectivity in salt marshes

Salt marshes, due to their capability to bury soil carbon (C), are potentially important regional C sinks. Efforts to restore tidal flow to former salt marshes have increased in recent decades in New England (USA), as well as in some other parts of the world. In this study, we investigated plant biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes at four sites where restoration of tidal flow...
Authors
Fanning Wang, Meagan J. Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Amanda C. Spivak, Jianwu Tang
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

An important biogeochemical link between organic and inorganic carbon cycling: Effects of organic alkalinity on carbonate chemistry in coastal waters influenced by intertidal salt marshes An important biogeochemical link between organic and inorganic carbon cycling: Effects of organic alkalinity on carbonate chemistry in coastal waters influenced by intertidal salt marshes

Organic acid charge groups in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contribute to total alkalinity (TA), i.e. organic alkalinity (OrgAlk). Its effect is often ignored or treated as a calculation uncertainty in many aquatic CO2 studies. This study evaluated the variability, sources, and characteristics of OrgAlk in estuarine waters exchanged tidally with a groundwater-influenced salt marsh in...
Authors
Shuzhen Song, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Sophie N. Chu, Daoji Li, Haorui Liang
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Getting to the core of the matter Getting to the core of the matter

The topic of carbon sequestration in coastal salt marshes can serve as the basis of an investigation story line with plenty of authentic relevance and drama! Consider establishing the context with students as an introduction to this lesson. Many resources for teaching about carbon uptake and sequestration in coastal wetlands can be found at the Bringing Wetlands to Market website. Some...
Authors
Meagan Gonneea Eagle
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Tidal wetland gross primary production across the continental United States, 2000–2019 Tidal wetland gross primary production across the continental United States, 2000–2019

We mapped tidal wetland gross primary production (GPP) with unprecedented detail for multiple wetland types across the continental United States (CONUS) at 16‐day intervals for the years 2000–2019. To accomplish this task, we developed the spatially explicit Blue Carbon (BC) model, which combined tidal wetland cover and field‐based eddy covariance tower data into a single Bayesian...
Authors
R.A. Feagin, I. Forbrich, T. P. Huff, J.G. Barr, J. Ruiz-Plancarte, J.D. Fuentes, R.G. Najjar, R. Vargas, A. Vazquez Lule, L. Windham-Myers, Kevin D. Kroeger, E. J. Ward, G. W. Moore, M. Leclerc, K. W. Krauss, C.L. Stagg, M. Alber, S. H. Knox, K. V. R. Schafer, T.S. Bianchi, J. A. Hutchings, H. Nahrawi, A. Noormets, B. Mitra, A. Jaimes, A.L. Hinson, Brian A. Bergamaschi, J.S. King, G. Miao
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Land Change Science Program, California Water Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Phytoplankton community structure response to groundwater-borne nutrients in the inland bays, Delaware Phytoplankton community structure response to groundwater-borne nutrients in the inland bays, Delaware

To determine the impacts of groundwater-borne nutrients on phytoplankton biomass and community structure, we conducted a series of mesocosm experiments in the Inland Bays of Delaware. Four treatments were tested, including mesocosms coupled directly to submarine groundwater seepage, mesocosms with the addition of pumped submarine groundwater, mesocosms with the addition of phosphate, and...
Authors
Daniel Torre, Kathryn Coyne, Kevin D. Kroeger, Joanna K. York
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Water salinity and inundation control soil carbon decomposition during salt marsh restoration: An incubation experiment Water salinity and inundation control soil carbon decomposition during salt marsh restoration: An incubation experiment

Coastal wetlands are a significant carbon (C) sink since they store carbon in anoxic soils. This ecosystem service is impacted by hydrologic alteration and management of these coastal habitats. Efforts to restore tidal flow to former salt marshes have increased in recent decades and are generally associated with alteration of water inundation levels and salinity. This study examined the...
Authors
Faming Wang, Kevin D. Kroeger, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, John W. Pohlman, Jianwu Tang
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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