Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhicheng Yang, Davide Tognin, Alvise Finotello, Enrica Belluco, Alice Puppin, Sonia Silvestri, Marco Marani, Andrea D'Alpaos
Summary: Tight interplays between physical and biotic processes in tidal salt marshes lead to self-organization of halophytic vegetation into recurrent zonation patterns developed across elevation gradients. Despite its importance for marsh ecomorphodynamics, the response of vegetation zonation to changing environmental forcings remains difficult to predict, mostly because of lacking long-term field observations of vegetation evolution in the face of changing rates of sea level rise and marsh vertical accretion.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
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
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Orencio Duran Vinent, Ellen R. Herbert, Daniel J. Coleman, Joshua D. Himmelstein, Matthew L. Kirwan
Summary: Research shows that the threshold for marsh fragmentation along coastal areas is primarily related to tidal range, and sediment supply is relevant only when tides are enough to transport sediment to the marsh interior. Organic matter accumulation controls the threshold of relative sea level rise in marsh ecosystems, explaining the fragmentation of microtidal marshes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sinead M. Crotty, Daniele Pinton, Alberto Canestrelli, Hallie S. Fischman, Collin Ortals, Nicholas R. Dahl, Sydney Williams, Tjeerd J. Bouma, Christine Angelini
Summary: This study reveals that the mussel, Geukensia demissa, has a significant effect on saltmarsh accretion in the southeastern US, with deposition being 2.8-10.7 times higher on mussel aggregations compared to other marsh locations. The study also predicts that mussels drive substantial changes to the magnitude and spatial patterning of accretion at marsh domain scales. Moreover, a manipulative experiment involving over 200,000 mussels shows that the faunal engineer has a much larger impact on relative marsh accretion rates than expected. Therefore, there is a critical need for empirical, experimental, and modeling work to understand the importance of faunal engineers in modifying the persistence of coastal ecosystems globally.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas E. Kutcher, Kenneth B. Raposa
Summary: Tidal restoration efforts in salt marshes have led to some biological recovery, but incomplete restoration is common due to inundation stress and eutrophication. This study highlights the importance of long-term biological monitoring and the use of rapid assessment data to provide valuable context for restoration findings and guide future restoration practices.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicole Maher, Adam Starke
Summary: Salt marsh habitat loss and conversion in the marine-coastal district of New York are causing salt marshes to fall behind in keeping up with sea level rise. A study conducted in Long Island, NY found that vertical elevation growth within the rootzone is insufficient, leading to the need for optimizing conditions for native salt marsh plants and organic matter preservation. Understanding the full suite of processes contributing to elevation changes is crucial for managing this valuable resource for the future.
ESTUARIES AND COASTS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Peter Mueller, Lars Kutzbach, Thomas J. Mozdzer, Emil Jespersen, Donald C. Barber, Franziska Eller
Summary: This study investigates the role of soil inorganic carbon in coastal ecosystems and finds that it makes a substantial contribution to the total soil carbon stock. Contrary to the hypothesis, the study shows that inorganic carbon stocks increase along the successional gradient, possibly due to other processes like trapping of sedimentary carbonates and calcium carbonate precipitation.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(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)
Article
Limnology
Anna Elizabeth Lovgren Graversen, Gary T. Banta, Pere Masque, Dorte Krause-Jensen
Summary: Climate change has created a demand for solutions counteracting greenhouse gas emissions, including the expansion of natural carbon-sequestration habitats like salt marshes. A study on Danish salt marshes showed that grazing had a minimal effect on carbon stocks and sequestration rates, with grazed sites actually having higher carbon densities in surface layers. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact of grazing on carbon sequestration and to develop effective blue carbon management strategies for salt marshes.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Limnology
Man Qi, Jessica MacGregor, Keryn Gedan
Summary: Interior marsh pond formation can be differentiated by temporal vegetation changes and spatial configuration from accretion deficit and other disturbances. Flood tolerant plants displace flood intolerant species landward of ponds, while a reverse species transition is observed seaward due to tidal creek incision alleviating interior marsh inundation.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
J. L. Raw, J. B. Adams, T. G. Bornman, T. Riddin, M. A. Vanderklift
Summary: Restoring disused commercial salt extraction pans to estuarine habitats has the potential to enhance carbon sequestration, but sea-level rise by 2100 will still lead to significant losses of supratidal marshes and extensive tidal flooding of developed areas in the lower reaches of the estuary.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Schwarz, Floris van Rees, Danghan Xie, Maarten G. Kleinhans, Barend van Maanen
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different recruitment strategies of mangroves and salt marshes on channel network properties. The research finds that salt marshes have more extensive channel networks and shorter over-marsh flow paths compared to mangrove systems. Laboratory experiments support these findings, indicating that recruitment strategies play a crucial role in channel development.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Julia Bass, Dirk Granse, Ingo Hache, Kai Jensen, Volker Karius, Vanessa Minden, Martin Stock, Sigrid Suchrow, Michael Kleyer
Summary: The current climate crisis is leading to sea level rise, which poses a threat to coastal ecosystems. Salt marshes can only persist if their vertical accretion exceeds the rate of sea level rise. Plant functional traits, particularly leaf traits, have an impact on vertical accretion in salt marshes.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alvise Finotello, Andrea D'Alpaos, Marco Marani, Enrico Bertuzzo
Summary: This article presents a new ecological model that describes the dynamics of halophytic vegetation in tidal saline wetlands. The model takes into account factors such as dispersal and competition among species, and is able to predict realistic vegetation distributions and species-richness patterns.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thavanayagam Mathiventhan, Daniel Gorman, Thangamuthu Jayasingam
Summary: Sea-level rise affects soil salinity and vegetation distribution in coastal areas. A 1-meter increase in sea level could result in inundation of landward communities and shifting of coastal vegetation.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geology
Marta Cosma, Na Yan, Luca Colombera, Nigel P. Mountney, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi
Summary: This study combines field data from the Venice Lagoon with a three-dimensional forward stratigraphic model (PB-SAND) to predict the stratal geometries of point bars formed in aggradational settings, revealing the mechanism of point-bar morphology formation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giorgio Cassiani, Elena Bellizia, Alessandro Fontana, Jacopo Boaga, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Sgarabotto, Andrea D'Alpaos, Stefano Lanzoni
Summary: Tidal channels play a crucial role in driving the exchange of water, sediments, and nutrients in tidal environments, but their response to environmental forcing remains poorly understood. Vegetation growth has a significant impact on the morphological evolution of tidal channels, affecting channel incision and infilling depending on the elevation of the intertidal platform and other environmental factors.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Elena Bellizia, Davide Tognin, Jacopo Boaga, Giorgio Cassiani, Riccardo Leardi, Alvise Finotello, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi
Summary: This study proposes a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the architecture of point-bar bodies in the Venetian Plain, Italy, by analyzing geophysical and sedimentological data. The results show that point-bar deposits mainly consist of fine to coarse sand and have lower electromagnetic conductivity compared to surrounding muddy overbank deposits.
JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Davide Tognin, Andrea D'Alpaos, Marco Marani, Luca Carniello
Summary: Salt marshes are important coastal habitats that provide ecosystem services, but they are threatened by rising sea levels and sediment deprivation. Expansion of coastal flooding protection infrastructures, such as storm-surge barriers, could also pose a serious threat to salt marshes. Observations from the Venice Lagoon show that storm surges play a major role in salt-marsh sedimentation, but the operations of storm-surge barriers significantly reduce the supply of sediment to the marshes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liang Geng, Andrea D'Alpaos, Alessandro Sgarabotto, Zheng Gong, Stefano Lanzoni
Summary: The formation and development of tidal channels and salt marshes are controlled by complex interactions, with vegetation growth playing a key role. Vegetation promotes the development of channel networks, but sea level rise restricts the extension of salt marshes.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Alvise Finotello, Ruggero M. Capperucci, Alexander Bartholoma, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi
Summary: Tidal channels play a crucial role in the distribution of sediments and nutrients, affecting the ecomorphodynamics of tidal landscapes. The Venice Lagoon in Italy provides a unique opportunity to study the evolution of tidal channels and their relationship with hydrodynamic changes. This study reveals the feedback mechanisms between rising sea levels, human interventions, and the morpho-sedimentary evolution of meandering tidal channels in the lagoon.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davide Tognin, Alvise Finotello, Andrea D'Alpaos, Daniele P. Viero, Mattia Pivato, Riccardo A. Mel, Andrea Defina, Enrico Bertuzzo, Marco Marani, Luca Carniello
Summary: Coastal flooding prevention measures, such as storm-surge barriers, are widely adopted globally due to rising sea levels. However, their effects on shallow tidal embayment morphodynamics are poorly understood. Field data and modeling results from the microtidal Venice Lagoon reveal that artificial reduction of water levels leads to increased sediment resuspension and decreased salt marsh accretion.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Elena Bachini, Elena Bellizia, Mario Putti, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi
Summary: Understanding the internal structure of permeable and impermeable sediments generated by meandering tidal channels is crucial for accurately modeling groundwater flow and contaminant transport in coastal areas. This study uses high resolution reconstructions of ancient tidal channels in the Venice Lagoon to simulate groundwater flow and transport, highlighting the importance of incorporating sediment accumulation processes into hydraulic characteristics and the significant influence of horizontal anisotropy on transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chao Gao, Alvise Finotello, Andrea D'Alpaos, Massimiliano Ghinassi, Luca Carniello, Yupeng Pan, Dezhi Chen, Ya Ping Wang
Summary: Meandering channels in intertidal mudflats are important but poorly understood features in terms of hydrodynamics and morphodynamic evolution. This study presents new hydroacoustic data collected from a mudflat meander in China over an 8-day period. The results show the dominance of flood flows and the limited impact of curvature-induced helical flows on the morphodynamics of the meander. The findings contribute to a better understanding of intertidal mudflat meanders and their planform characteristics.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alvise Finotello, Davide Tognin, Luca Carniello, Massimiliano Ghinassi, Enrico Bertuzzo, Andrea D'Alpaos
Summary: The loss of salt marshes in back-barrier tidal embayments is causing significant changes in hydrodynamics, including higher water levels and reduced wave energy dissipation. Restoration projects and manmade protection of marsh margins have limited the negative effects of marsh loss, but the risk of flooding in urban settlements remains unchanged. The hydrodynamic response to salt-marsh erosion is highly site-specific, depending on embayment morphology and external tidal and wind forcings.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
L. Geng, S. Lanzoni, A. D'Alpaos, A. Sgarabotto, Z. Gong
Summary: In this study, a numerical model was used to investigate the effects of initial bathymetry on the ontogeny of tidal networks in a tidal basin. It was found that different perturbation densities have mild effects on the growth of tidal networks, while changes in perturbation distribution significantly affect the complexity and structure of the channel networks. Vegetation growth was found to increase channel length and narrowness, leading to higher complexity and drainage efficiency of the system.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhicheng Yang, Davide Tognin, Alvise Finotello, Enrica Belluco, Alice Puppin, Sonia Silvestri, Marco Marani, Andrea D'Alpaos
Summary: Tight interplays between physical and biotic processes in tidal salt marshes lead to self-organization of halophytic vegetation into recurrent zonation patterns developed across elevation gradients. Despite its importance for marsh ecomorphodynamics, the response of vegetation zonation to changing environmental forcings remains difficult to predict, mostly because of lacking long-term field observations of vegetation evolution in the face of changing rates of sea level rise and marsh vertical accretion.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Puppin, M. Roner, A. Finotello, M. Ghinassi, L. Tommasini, M. Marani, A. D'Alpaos
Summary: Tidal salt marshes are ecologically and economically important as they provide valuable ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and resilience to rising sea levels. Understanding organic matter dynamics is crucial for salt-marsh conservation and studying their role in the global carbon cycle.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Chen Wang, Lennert Schepers, Matthew L. Kirwan, Enrica Belluco, Andrea D'Alpaos, Qiao Wang, Shoujing Yin, Stijn Temmerman
Summary: This study investigates the presence and revegetation of bare patches in coastal marshes at three different sites, and finds that the topographic conditions play a significant role in determining the occurrence of bare patches. The study demonstrates a positive relationship between the width of connecting channels and the size of bare patches, and reveals that revegetation mainly occurs in areas with high tidal range and sediment availability.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
A. Securo, C. Del Gobbo, L. Rettig, S. Pillon, A. De Luca, D. Fontana, E. Benedetti Fasil, R. R. Colucci
Summary: Small glaciers in temperate mountain regions have experienced significant reduction and unprecedented melt rates in recent years. Some glaciers have transitioned from clean ice to debris-covered or even rock glaciers. This study examines the surface elevation change of the Popera Alto glacier in the Sesto Dolomites using LiDAR and Structure from Motion surveys, and analyzes its evolution in terms of surface cover and geomorphic processes. The glacier has lost an average of 0.35 m water equivalent per year over the past 16 years, with active modification of its surface cover by geomorphic processes. The role of debris and local topography feedback has allowed the resilience of the glacier, leading to a marked difference between the current environmental equilibrium line altitude (envELA) and the effective ELA (effELA) of the glacier.
Article
Geography, Physical
Zhenzhen Yan, Yaolin Shi, Lili Kang, Xiangtao Fan
Summary: This study proposes a quantitative regional deformation model based on global positioning system (GPS) data to quantitatively analyze the morphological evolution of rivers in the Three Rivers Region. It finds that tectonic deformation phases significantly control regional landscape development and drainage features.
Article
Geography, Physical
Said Mukhtar Ahmad, Nitheshnirmal Sadhasivam, Mona Lisa, Luigi Lombardo, Mustafa Kemal Emil, Amira Zaki, Cees J. Van Westen, Islam Fadel, Hakan Tanyas
Summary: In this study, we investigated a large slow-moving landslide in Northern Pakistan, using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) analysis. Our results showed that the crown of the landslide is moving faster than the surrounding regions, while the footslope experienced high deformations. We discussed the possible roles of meteorologic and anthropogenic factors in causing these deformations.
Article
Geography, Physical
Shuang Bian, Xibin Tan, Yiduo Liu, Suoya Fan, Junfeng Gong, Chao Zhou, Feng Shi, Michael A. Murphy
Summary: The Yarlung River's drainage divide is primarily moving north due to variations in precipitation across the Himalayas. The Gangdese drainage divide shows predominantly northward and southward migration, controlled by base-level rise and downstream influences. The presence of north-trending rifts separates the drainage divides into five zones, each with a distinct migration pattern.
Article
Geography, Physical
Joon-Young Park, Seok Yoon, Deuk-Hwan Lee, Seung-Rae Lee, Hwan-Hui Lim
Summary: This study developed a multiple-regression model to estimate site-specific average growth rates of debris flow events. The proposed model was validated through a case study and showed reasonable predictions of debris flow velocities and heights.
Article
Geography, Physical
Nicholas Reilly Mccarroll, Arnaud Temme
Summary: New geochronological data from hillslope boulder armor in the Flint Hills reveal the rates and timing of lateral retreat in the landscape. Surfaces of limestone boulders dating back to the Pleistocene era were found, and the ages of the hillslope armor increased with distance from the limestone bench. The estimated rate of lateral retreat in this landscape is 0.02 mm/yr.
Article
Geography, Physical
Xinbo Yao, Yuntao Tian
Summary: By studying the Longmenshan-Minshan drainage divide, we found that it has reached a dynamic steady state, indicating a balance between erosion and rock uplift. This study also reveals the process of formation and evolution of the divide and raises questions about the effectiveness of divide migration metrics.
Article
Geography, Physical
Junhui Yu, Pin Yan, Yanlin Wang, Guangjian Zhong, Changliang Chen
Summary: The seafloor mounds in the Chaoshan Depression of the South China Sea are identified as mud volcanoes, with fluids coming from underlying mud-fluid diapirs. The hydrocarbon gases feeding the mud volcanoes and diapirs are reasoned to originate from deep Mesozoic source rocks, indicating significant Mesozoic hydrocarbon potential in the Chaoshan Depression.
Article
Geography, Physical
Marius Huber, Luc Scholtes, Jerome Lave
Summary: This paper investigates the relationships between hillslope stability and fabric anisotropy of brittle rock materials and the implications for landscape shaping. It explores the different stability modes and movement characteristics of anisotropic materials, and demonstrates the significant control of material anisotropy on landscape shaping.
Article
Geography, Physical
Shubhra Sharma, Anil D. Shukla
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between glacial dynamics and lake sedimentation during the mid-Holocene climate variability in the Southern Zanskar ranges. It utilizes geomorphological disposition, elemental geochemistry, and optical chronology of relict lake sediment to reconstruct the pattern of minor glacier responses to climate variability. The results indicate six centennial to millennial-scale climatic phases, with warmer phases represented by decreased mineralogical fine grain flux and increased coarse grain flux. The study highlights the potential of relict lake sediment and para/peri-glacial landforms in understanding glacial dynamics and climate change during the Holocene.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jean-Francois Bernier, Sydney W. Meury, Patrick Lajeunesse
Summary: In this study, an approach combining various data and observation methods was proposed to improve the monitoring of landfast ice dynamics and its geomorphic impact on sedimentary systems. The results demonstrate the ability of the approach to accurately measure interannual variations in landfast ice and constrain geomorphic changes. Additionally, the study found a strong relationship between the severity of freezing seasons and the response of landfast ice to hydrometeorological events, with different geomorphic responses observed under different winter conditions.
Article
Geography, Physical
Heping Shu, Fanyu Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between susceptibility of soil-water hazards and human activities, geoheritage sites in the Loess Plateau, China. Landslide and gully erosion susceptibility were obtained using gradient boosting and support vector machines, and a hazard matrix was formed to couple landslide and gully erosion susceptibility. The study found different trends in the magnification times of soil-water hazards chain under different scenarios.
Article
Geography, Physical
Guangqiang Qian, Zhuanling Yang, Xuegang Xing, Zhibao Dong, Youyuan Guo
Summary: Granule ripples are aeolian landforms armored against erosion by coarse grains. This study investigates their seasonal morphological evolution and migration in the Sanlongsha Dune Field. The findings show that wind events, especially those exceeding the threshold velocities of coarse grains, significantly influence the morphodynamics of granule ripples. The study highlights the importance of considering the reptation and saltation of coarse grains in future research on granule ripples.