Response scenarios for the deltaic plain of the Rhône in the face of an acceleration in the rate of sea-level rise with special attention toSalicornia-type environments

Pont, Didier; Day, John W.; Hensel, Philippe; Franquet, Évelyne; Torre, F. Jason; Rioual, Patrick; Ibáñez, Carles; Coulet, Eric

doi:10.1007/bf02695978

Cited by 85 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Simas et al (2001) simulated salt marsh development under sea-level scenarios and found mesotidal salt marshes to be threatened under worst-case scenarios; they found that marshes accustomed to large tidal ranges are less sensitive to relatively small mean increases in sea level, assuming sediment input is not limited. Pont et al (2002) reinforced the importance of mineral (inorganic) input in light of sealevel rise; they suggest that current sediment supply from the Rhone River is not sufficient to maintain marsh elevation at its mouth. Pethick (1993) used changes induced by tectonic sea-level rise to infer changes induced by global warming-related sea-level rise; he found intertidal profiles shifting landward, while the estuarine channels became wider and shallower.…”

Section: Sea-level Risementioning

confidence: 88%

Decadal-Timescale Estuarine Geomorphic Change Under Future Scenarios of Climate and Sediment Supply

Ganju

Schoellhamer

2009

Estuaries and Coasts

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Future estuarine geomorphic change, in response to climate change, sea-level rise, and watershed sediment supply, may govern ecological function, navigation, and water quality. We estimated geomorphic changes in Suisun Bay, CA, under four scenarios using a tidal-timescale hydrodynamic/sediment transport model. Computational expense and data needs were reduced using the morphological hydrograph concept and the morphological acceleration factor. The four scenarios included (1) present-day conditions; (2) sea-level rise and freshwater flow changes of 2030; (3) sea-level rise and decreased watershed sediment supply of 2030; and (4) sea-level rise, freshwater flow changes, and decreased watershed sediment supply of 2030. Sea-level rise increased water levels thereby reducing wave-induced bottom shear stress and sediment redistribution during the wind-wave season. Decreased watershed sediment supply reduced net deposition within the estuary, while minor changes in freshwater flow timing and magnitude induced the smallest overall effect. In all future scenarios, net deposition in the entire estuary and in the shallowest areas did not keep pace with sea-level rise, suggesting that intertidal and wetland areas may struggle to maintain elevation. Tidal-timescale simulations using future conditions were also used to infer changes in optical depth: though sea-level rise acts to decrease mean light irradiance, decreased suspended-sediment concentrations increase irradiance, yielding small changes in optical depth. The modeling results also assisted with the development of a dimensionless estuarine geomorphic number representing the ratio of potential sediment import forces to sediment export forces; we found the number to be linearly related to relative geomorphic change in Suisun Bay. The methods implemented here are widely applicable to evaluating future scenarios of estuarine change over decadal timescales.

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Section: Sea-level Risementioning

confidence: 88%

Decadal-Timescale Estuarine Geomorphic Change Under Future Scenarios of Climate and Sediment Supply

Ganju

Schoellhamer

2009

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Along western European coasts, the sea level has been increasing at least since the Roman Period, and this increase has accelerated during the Modern Period (Pye, 1995). Salt marshes can keep pace with the sea level increase, but this ability depends on the sedimentation rate (Reed et al, 1990;Pont et al, 2002). In this case, S. maritimus could be at risk in the Mondego estuary.…”

Section: Temperature Increasementioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Couto

Martins²,

Duarte³

et al. 2014

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract.Gradual increases in temperature and atmospheric CO 2 concentrations have resulted from the increased human use of fossil fuels since the beginning of industrial activity. In coastal wetland ecosystems, salt marshes constitute important habitats because they play important ecological roles, acting as carbon sinks by capturing atmospheric CO 2 and storing it in living plant tissue. Ecological models are important tools for understanding the results of anthropogenic impacts on a global scale. Global warming poses threats to salt marshes through different effects, e.g., increases in sea level. The objectives of this study were i) to assess how temperature increases will influence the growth of salt marsh plants, ii) to infer the carbon budget of salt marshes under temperature increase scenarios and iii) to predict how salt marsh plants will keep pace with increases in sea level. These goals were achieved by developing growth models of three different plants (Spartina maritima, Scirpus maritimus and Zostera noltei) found in the Mondego estuary. Models were developed for C 3 and C 4 plant species. The results suggest that a temperature increase enhances the aboveground biomass of salt marsh plants. According to the predictions of the models, the sedimentation rate of S. maritima and Z. noltei can keep pace with increases in sea level, but this is apparently not the case for S. maritimus. If S. maritimus disappears from the Mondego estuary, the carbon sequestration ability of the system should decrease due to the loss of active plant tissue. This conclusion is based on the fact that S. maritimus accumulated more than 80% of the total carbon sequestered in the tissues by the three studied species.

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“…Aerial : the subterranean biomass quotient of cordgrasses is usually lower than 1 (ca. 0.5) (Pont et al, 2002;Windham et al, 2003;Castillo et al, 2008a;Darby & Turner 2008b). Belowground biomass in cordgrasses carries out very important and diverse functions such as storing of resources in its abundant rhizome system (Suzuki & Stuefer, 1999), fixing the plant to sediments in a very dynamic environment subjected to frequent and intense mechanical impacts (grazing, waves and currents) or exploring the sediments for nutrient uptake.…”

Section: Subterranean Biomass Of Cordgrassesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

Castillo¹,

Rubio-Casal²,

Figueroa³

2010

Biomass

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Response scenarios for the deltaic plain of the Rhône in the face of an acceleration in the rate of sea-level rise with special attention toSalicornia-type environments

Cited by 85 publications

References 46 publications

Decadal-Timescale Estuarine Geomorphic Change Under Future Scenarios of Climate and Sediment Supply

Decadal-Timescale Estuarine Geomorphic Change Under Future Scenarios of Climate and Sediment Supply

Modelling the effects of global temperature increase on the growth of salt marsh plants

Cordgrass Biomass in Salt Marshes

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