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Sea-level driven land conversion and the formation of ghost forests

Author

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  • Matthew L. Kirwan

    (College of William and Mary)

  • Keryn B. Gedan

    (George Washington University)

Abstract

Ghost forests created by the submergence of low-lying land are one of the most striking indicators of climate change along the Atlantic coast of North America. Although dead trees at the margin of estuaries were described as early as 1910, recent research has led to new recognition that the submergence of terrestrial land is geographically widespread, ecologically and economically important, and globally relevant to the survival of coastal wetlands in the face of rapid sea level rise. This emerging understanding has in turn generated widespread interest in the physical and ecological mechanisms influencing the extent and pace of upland to wetland conversion. Choices between defending the coast from sea level rise and facilitating ecosystem transgression will play a fundamental role in determining the fate and function of low-lying coastal land.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew L. Kirwan & Keryn B. Gedan, 2019. "Sea-level driven land conversion and the formation of ghost forests," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(6), pages 450-457, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0488-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0488-7
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Maricar Aguilos & Charlton Brown & Kevan Minick & Milan Fischer & Omoyemeh J. Ile & Deanna Hardesty & Maccoy Kerrigan & Asko Noormets & John King, 2021. "Millennial-Scale Carbon Storage in Natural Pine Forests of the North Carolina Lower Coastal Plain: Effects of Artificial Drainage in a Time of Rapid Sea Level Rise," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie & Maruf Yakubu Ahmed & Phebe Asantewaa Owusu, 2022. "Global adaptation readiness and income mitigate sectoral climate change vulnerabilities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Rebekah Grieger & Samantha J. Capon & Wade L. Hadwen & Brendan Mackey, 2020. "Between a bog and a hard place: a global review of climate change effects on coastal freshwater wetlands," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 161-179, November.
    4. Lindsey S. Smart & Jelena Vukomanovic & Paul J. Taillie & Kunwar K. Singh & Jordan W. Smith, 2021. "Quantifying Drivers of Coastal Forest Carbon Decline Highlights Opportunities for Targeted Human Interventions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-22, July.
    5. Kendall Valentine & Ellen R. Herbert & David C. Walters & Yaping Chen & Alexander J. Smith & Matthew L. Kirwan, 2023. "Climate-driven tradeoffs between landscape connectivity and the maintenance of the coastal carbon sink," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Leonard O. Ohenhen & Manoochehr Shirzaei & Chandrakanta Ojha & Matthew L. Kirwan, 2023. "Hidden vulnerability of US Atlantic coast to sea-level rise due to vertical land motion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Rachael Sacatelli & Marjorie Kaplan & Glen Carleton & Richard G. Lathrop, 2023. "Coastal Forest Dieback in the Northeast USA: Potential Mechanisms and Management Responses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.

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