Salt marsh accretion and storm tide variation: an example from a Barrier Island in the North Sea.

Schuerch, M., Rapaglia, V., Liebetrau, Volker, Vafeidis, A. and Reise, K. (2012) Salt marsh accretion and storm tide variation: an example from a Barrier Island in the North Sea. Estuaries and Coasts, 35 (2). pp. 486-500. DOI 10.1007/s12237-011-9461-z.

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Supplementary data:

Abstract

We reconstruct past accretion rates of a salt marsh on the island of Sylt, Germany, using measurements of the radioisotopes 210Pb and 137Cs, as well as historical aerial photographs. Results from three cores indicate accretion rates varying between 1 and 16 mm year−1. Comparisons with tide gauge data show that high accretion rates during the 1980s and 1990s coincide with periods of increased storm activity. We identify a critical inundation height of 18 cm below which the strength of a storm seems to positively influence salt marsh accretion rates and above which the frequency of storms becomes the major factor. In addition to sea level rise, we conclude that in low marsh zones subject to higher inundation levels, mean storm strength is the major factor affecting marsh accretion, whereas in high marsh zones with lower inundation levels, it is storm frequency that impacts marsh accretion.

Document Type: Article
Additional Information: Erratum: Estuaries and Coasts, 35 (5). p. 1360. DOI 10.1007/s12237-012-9525-8.
Keywords: Meereswissenschaften; Biogeochemistry; Salt marsh; accretion rate; geochronology; 28 Storm activity; Barrier Island; Sylt
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-MG Marine Geosystems
OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence
HGF-AWI
Kiel University
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Springer
Projects: Future Ocean
Date Deposited: 16 Dec 2011 11:05
Last Modified: 23 Sep 2019 18:34
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/13015

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