Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelly Elschot, Martin J. Baptist, Marinka E. B. van Puijenbroek
Summary: A global concern for coastal ecosystems is the predicted rise in sea-level for which salt marshes must keep pace. Variables that control this elevation change need to be identified to predict the adaptability of marshes to future sea-level rise. Grazing by livestock can significantly reduce the annual rates of elevation gain and affect the future adaptability of salt marshes to grow vertically for rising sea levels. Trampling by grazing cattle, along with other factors like precipitation deficit and extreme drought, can lead to biocompaction and reduce the total elevation change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Lincke, Jochen Hinkel
Summary: Based on an analysis of global coastal segments, it is estimated that about 3% of the coastline requires protection to prevent coastal migration and large-scale land loss. For the remaining 97% of coastlines, an estimated land loss of 60,000 to 415,000 square kilometers and coastal migration of 17 to 72 million people is projected.
Article
Geography, Physical
Mike Blum, David Rahn, Bruce Frederick, Sara Moron Polanco
Summary: The Mississippi River Delta in coastal Louisiana has experienced significant land loss due to disrupted sediment supply and global sea-level rise. Between 1932 and 2016, the coast has lost -5000 km2 of land at a rate of -57 km2 per year. The magnitude and distribution of land loss can be attributed to subsidence, reduced sediment input, and accelerated sea-level rise.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xun Cai, Jian Shen, Yinglong J. Zhang, Qubin Qin, Lewis Linker
Summary: In this study, a numerical model was used to investigate the impact of sea-level rise on biogeochemical processes in the York River Estuary. The results showed that sea-level rise amplified tidal range and increased flooding duration, leading to enhanced porewater exchanges and phytoplankton production in the shallow-water regions. However, there were relatively minimal changes in dissolved nitrogen under sea-level rise.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jaap H. Nienhuis, Wonsuck Kim, Glenn A. Milne, Melinda Quock, Aimee B. A. Slangen, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist
Summary: Future sea-level rise is a serious threat to river deltas, but understanding the exact impact is challenging. Current knowledge is based on models, experiments, and geologic records, with improvements in detecting and modeling past and future sea-level changes. However, uncertainties remain, especially regarding subsidence rates and validating models.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Neil Saintilan, Katya E. Kovalenko, Glenn Guntenspergen, Kerrylee Rogers, James C. Lynch, Donald R. Cahoon, Catherine E. Lovelock, Daniel A. Friess, Erica Ashe, Ken W. Krauss, Nicole Cormier, Tom Spencer, Janine Adams, Jacqueline Raw, Carles Ibanez, Francesco Scarton, Stijn Temmerman, Patrick Meire, Tom Maris, Karen Thorne, John Brazner, Gail L. Chmura, Tony Bowron, Vishmie P. Gamage, Kimberly Cressman, Charlie Endris, Christina Marconi, Pamela Marcum, Kari St Laurent, William Reay, Kenneth B. Raposa, Jason A. Garwood, Nicole Khan
Summary: This study reveals that although marsh sediment accretion increases in response to sea level rise, nonlinear subsidence of the substrate constrains marsh elevation gain, making marsh ecosystems vulnerable.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David I. Armstrong Mckay, Arie Staal, Jesse F. Abrams, Ricarda Winkelmann, Boris Sakschewski, Sina Loriani, Ingo Fetzer, Sarah E. Cornell, Johan Rockstrom, Timothy M. Lenton
Summary: This study provides a revised shortlist of global core tipping elements and regional impact tipping elements and their temperature thresholds through synthesizing paleoclimate, observational, and model-based research. The current global warming is already approaching the lower end of some tipping point uncertainty ranges, and several tipping points may be triggered within the range of global warming set by the Paris Agreement. Therefore, urgent action is needed to mitigate climate change and develop improved tipping point risk assessment, early warning capability, and adaptation strategies.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jaap H. Nienhuis, Roderik S. W. van de Wal
Summary: Research indicates that river deltas are facing significant land loss due to climate-change driven sea-level rise, with future projections showing a gloomy outlook.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John B. Anderson, Davin J. Wallace, Antonio B. Rodriguez, Alexander R. Simms
Summary: Most of the US Gulf Coast is undergoing widespread erosion due to factors such as diminishing offshore sand supply, human alterations to rivers and coastal sand transport, and severe storms. However, the main cause of this erosion is the dramatic increase in sea-level rise over the past century. Management practices will need to adapt to this continuous coastal retreat as sea-level rise is expected to continue increasing.
Article
Environmental Sciences
James R. Holmquist, Lauren N. Brown, Glen M. MacDonald
Summary: Coastal wetlands are vulnerable to sea-level rise in both vertical and lateral dimensions. The study introduced vertical and lateral resilience indices, predicting significant changes in marshes in the US by 2100. A geographic tradeoff between vertical and lateral resilience was observed, with different vulnerabilities in wetlands from the north to the south.
Article
Ecology
Abbey Humphreys, Adrianna L. Gorsky, Donna M. Bilkovic, Randolph M. Chambers
Summary: With rising sea levels, there is an increase in the area occupied by the slightly more saline plant species of reed in low-salinity tidal marshes, while the area of native salt marsh grass remains relatively stable. Additionally, there is a decrease in species richness in low-salinity tidal marshes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jos van Alphen, Marjolijn Haasnoot, Ferdinand Diermanse
Summary: High and accelerated sea-level rise due to Antarctic ice sheet instability and retreat in this century poses challenges for coastal investment planning in densely populated coastal zones like the Netherlands. New technologies, experiments, strategies, and governance are needed to address this challenge. Strategic choices, such as closing estuaries, managing high river discharges, and adapting agriculture to saline coastal areas, along with no-regret measures, are essential for long-term adaptation to high sea-level rise.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patrick L. Barnard, Jenifer E. Dugan, Henry M. Page, Nathan J. Wood, Juliette A. Finzi Hart, Daniel R. Cayan, Li H. Erikson, David M. Hubbard, Monique R. Myers, John M. Melack, Sam F. Iacobellis
Summary: As climate evolves, coastal systems may reach tipping points with increased hazard exposure, while changes in socioeconomic exposure are less acute. Nonetheless, the interconnectedness of natural and human built systems could negatively impact residents' quality of life and disrupt the local economy.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandra M. Bloecker, Helene M. Gutte, Reuven L. Bender, Saskia A. Otto, Camilla Sguotti, Christian Moellmann
Summary: The recovery of depleted fish stocks is crucial for fisheries management and global food security, but can be hindered by anthropogenic impacts and regime shift dynamics. In this study, we used the reform of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy as a natural experiment to investigate the existence of regime shift dynamics and their effects on the recovery potential of commercial fish stocks in the North Sea. Our results show that regime shift dynamics exist in all six fish stocks studied, and their context-dependence can lead to either failed recovery or positive tipping.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed A. Abdrabo, Rofida G. Abdelwahab, Mahmoud A. Hassaan
Summary: The paper examines the influence of urban dynamics on potential physical vulnerability to Sea Level Rise (SLR), finding that urban centers will be more exposed to SLR impacts in the future, increasing their potential vulnerability by 2050.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Zhen Wei, Xianghui Li, Yongxiang Li, Xiaolong Fan, Jingyu Wang, Chaokai Zhang, Gongjue Jiebu
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2020)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Shengli Wang, Yan Chen, Julien Charreau, Yongxiang Li, Zhuxin Chen, Guangyou Zhu, Huaizhi Xu, Chao Li, Liangshu Wang
Summary: The uplift of the western Kunlun range is a result of the Indian indentation into Eurasia and the underthrusting of the Tarim lithosphere. The study determines that the western Kunlun mountain range started to uplift slightly before 40 million years ago and the modern geomorphology of the Tarim Basin took shape around 25 million years ago. The underthrusting rate of the Tarim lithosphere is approximately 8.18 mm/yr, combining a shortening rate and a latitudinal propagation rate.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yong-Xiang Li, Xinyu Liu, David Selby, Zhonghui Liu, Isabel P. Montanez, Xianghui Li
Summary: This study presents a high-resolution osmium isotope record from the OAE2 interval in southern Tibet, China. The record reveals intensified volcanism associated with the global onset of OAE2 and a correlation with a cold event in the Northern Hemisphere. These findings suggest that enhanced ocean connectivity played a critical role in triggering OAE2 globally.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Molly E. Keogh, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist, Alexander S. Kolker, Gilles Erkens, Jonathan G. Bridgeman
Summary: The study shows that organic-rich sediments are susceptible to compaction, which may prevent wetlands from keeping up with sea-level rise. In order for wetland restoration efforts to be successful, new sediment deposition must outpace elevation lost to compaction. The portion of the Mississippi Delta targeted for restoration indicates potential for net elevation gain if sediment loads are sufficient.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
E. L. Chamberlain, Z. Shen, W. Kim, S. McKinley, S. Anderson, T. E. Tornqvist
Summary: The ability of deltas to build new land is important for maintaining ecologic environments, but sediment deposition-induced subsidence may affect landforms. Research shows subsidence equivalent to 50% of sediment thickness, greater than 28%-35% in inland areas. Modeling suggests slight decrease in deltaic land-area gain under compaction scenario.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mark A. Zumberge, Surui Xie, Frank K. Wyatt, Michael S. Steckler, Guandong Li, William Hatfield, Donald Elliott, Timothy H. Dixon, Jonathan G. Bridgeman, Elizabeth L. Chamberlain, Mead Allison, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist
Summary: Land-surface subsidence is a major contributor to land loss in river deltas. New high-resolution data processing methods are needed to understand the driving forces. A subsidence superstation was established near the Mississippi River in coastal Louisiana to measure compaction in Holocene sediments and deeper subsidence. The data showed that the current subsidence at this location is mainly governed by deformation of the Pleistocene or underlying strata.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2022)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. H. Nienhuis, A. D. Ashton, D. A. Edmonds, A. J. F. Hoitink, A. J. Kettner, J. C. Rowland, T. E. Tornqvist
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Soenke Dangendorf, Noah Hendricks, Qiang Sun, John Klinck, Tal Ezer, Thomas Frederikse, Francisco M. Calafat, Thomas Wahl, Torbjoern E. Toernqvist
Summary: A study finds that global mean sea level has been accelerating since the 1960s, but detecting this locally is difficult due to natural variability. However, tide gauge records along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts show unprecedented rates of sea level rise (>10 mm yr(-1) since 2010). The acceleration is primarily induced by an ocean dynamic signal exceeding the externally forced response, and is compounded by wind driven Rossby waves.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Torbjorn E. Tornqvist
Summary: The world's largest deltas, which are home to many megacities, are expected to be most affected by sea-level rise caused by climate change. However, a study suggests that understanding the human impacts on the Mississippi Delta can help increase its resilience to these changes.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yong-Xiang Li, John A. Tarduno, Wenjun Jiao, Xinyu Liu, Shanchi Peng, Shihua Xu, Aihua Yang, Zhenyu Yang
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yong-Xiang Li, John A. Tarduno, Wenjun Jiao, Xinyu Liu, Shanchi Peng, Shihua Xu, Aihua Yang, Zhenyu Yang
Summary: The transition of the geodynamic field during the Ediacaran Period remains unknown. However, a high-resolution magnetostratigraphic analysis of a 494.5 million-year-old section in South China reveals that the geomagnetic field was unstable during most of the Cambrian, with frequent reversals and a lack of a geocentric axial dipole field. This unusual field behavior supports the rotational stability of the solid Earth during the Cambrian.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jaap H. Nienhuis, Wonsuck Kim, Glenn A. Milne, Melinda Quock, Aimee B. A. Slangen, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist
Summary: Future sea-level rise is a serious threat to river deltas, but understanding the exact impact is challenging. Current knowledge is based on models, experiments, and geologic records, with improvements in detecting and modeling past and future sea-level changes. However, uncertainties remain, especially regarding subsidence rates and validating models.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhixiong Shen, Brad E. Rosenheim, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist, Andreas Lang
Summary: Floodplains of large alluvial rivers play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, with anthropogenic management disconnecting rivers from floodplains leading to reduced oxidative loss of riverine organic carbon and changes in its quality and quantity exported to the ocean.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Manoochehr Shirzaei, Jeffrey Freymueller, Torbjorn E. Tornqvist, Devin L. Galloway, Tina Dura, Philip S. J. Minderhoud
Summary: This review discusses the main physical processes driving coastal subsidence, measurement techniques, and modeling methods to explain the impact of coastal subsidence on sea-level rise and flooding hazards.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)