Changes to the freshwater-seawater interface in coastal communities can have adverse effects for humans and wildlife. For humans, seawater intrusion into public-supply wells can degrade groundwater quality limiting the amount of water that can be used from a well. For wildlife, changes in the salinity of coastal habitats can have adverse effects.
Swamp Tree Growth
Scientists from the Wetlands and Aquatic Research Center are examining the potential effects of climate-change-induced sea level rise, drought and water extraction by examining tree growth patterns across the Gulf Coast, specifically targeting long-term research plots available in the North American Baldcypress Swamp Network (NABCSN) and the Suwannee River.
Detailed information about this study is available from the Long-term Trends in Swamp Tree Growth across Drought and Salinity Gradients along the Northern Gulf Coast web page.
Coastal Drought Index
Coastal droughts are different from upland droughts because of the freshwater-saltwater interface in surface waters of coastal communities. Drought indices used for upland drought may not be accurate when used for coastal drought. The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center has developed a Coastal Drought Index (CDI) using real-time and historical salinity datasets. CDIs characterizing 1- to 24-month salinity conditions have been developed. Evaluation of the CDIs has found that the index can be used for different estuary types, regional comparison between estuaries, and as an index for wet conditions (high freshwater inflow) or drought (saline) conditions.
More information about the CDI is available on the Development of a Coastal Salinity Index web page.
Changes to the freshwater-seawater interface in coastal communities can have adverse effects for humans and wildlife. For humans, seawater intrusion into public-supply wells can degrade groundwater quality limiting the amount of water that can be used from a well. For wildlife, changes in the salinity of coastal habitats can have adverse effects.
Swamp Tree Growth
Scientists from the Wetlands and Aquatic Research Center are examining the potential effects of climate-change-induced sea level rise, drought and water extraction by examining tree growth patterns across the Gulf Coast, specifically targeting long-term research plots available in the North American Baldcypress Swamp Network (NABCSN) and the Suwannee River.
Detailed information about this study is available from the Long-term Trends in Swamp Tree Growth across Drought and Salinity Gradients along the Northern Gulf Coast web page.
Coastal Drought Index
Coastal droughts are different from upland droughts because of the freshwater-saltwater interface in surface waters of coastal communities. Drought indices used for upland drought may not be accurate when used for coastal drought. The USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center has developed a Coastal Drought Index (CDI) using real-time and historical salinity datasets. CDIs characterizing 1- to 24-month salinity conditions have been developed. Evaluation of the CDIs has found that the index can be used for different estuary types, regional comparison between estuaries, and as an index for wet conditions (high freshwater inflow) or drought (saline) conditions.
More information about the CDI is available on the Development of a Coastal Salinity Index web page.