Lifespan of marsh units in E.B. Forsythe NWR and Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes

This data release contains the estimated lifespans of salt marshes in E.B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (EBFNWR) and Atlantic-facing New Jersey. The lifespans are calculated based on estimated sediment supply and sea-level rise (SLR) predictions, following the methodology of Ganju and others (2020). The salt marsh delineations are from Ackerman and others (2024) and Defne and Ganju (2016). The SLR predictions are local estimates corresponding to increases of 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 meter in global mean sea level (GMSL) by 2100, as projected by Sweet and others (2022). This work has been a part of the USGS’s effort to expand the national assessment of coastal change hazards and forecast products to coastal wetlands. The aim is to equip federal, state and local managers with tools to estimate the vulnerability and ecosystem service potential of these wetlands. For this purpose, the response and resilience of coastal wetlands to physical factors need to be assessed in terms of the ensuing change to their vulnerability and ecosystem services.

References:
Ackerman, K.V., Defne, Z., and Ganju, N.K., 2024, Geospatial characterization of Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1NN2QYM.

Defne, Z., and Ganju, N.K. 2016, Conceptual salt marsh units for wetland synthesis: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7QV3JPG.

Ganju, N.K., Defne, Z., Fagherazzi, S., 2020, Are elevation and open-water conversion of salt marshes connected?, Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086703.

Sweet, W.V., Hamlington, B.D., Kopp, R.E., Weaver, C.P., Barnard, P.L., Bekaert, D., Brooks, W., Craghan, M., Dusek, G., Frederikse, T., Garner, G., Genz, A.S., Krasting, J.P., Larour, E., Marcy, D., Marra, J.J., Obeysekera, J., Osler, M., Pendleton, M., Roman, D., Schmied, L., Veatch, W., White, K.D., and Zuzak, C., 2022, Global and Regional Sea Level Rise Scenarios for the United States: Updated Mean Projections and Extreme Water Level Probabilities Along U.S. Coastlines. NOAA Technical Report NOS 01. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Silver Spring, MD, 111 pp.