Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems
Lifespan of marsh units in Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling. Both the spatial and temporal scales of these mechanisms are important, and therefore require modern instrumentation and state-of-the-art hydrodynamic models. These projects are led from the U.S. Geological Survey's Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, but are collaborative projects that include participation from other U.S. Geological Survey offices, other federal and state agencies, and academic institutions.
Research
Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling.
Estuaries are dynamic environments where complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, watershed, ecosystems, and human infrastructure take place. They serve as valuable ecological habitat and provide numerous ecosystem services and recreational opportunities. However, they are modified by physical processes such as storms and sea-level rise, while anthropogenic impacts such as nutrient loading threaten ecosystem function within estuaries. This project collects basic observational data on these processes, develops numerical models of the processes, and applies the models to understand the past, present, and future states of estuaries.
Measuring parameters such as water velocity, salinity, sediment concentration, dissolved oxygen and other constituents in watersheds, tidal wetlands, estuaries, and coasts is critical for evaluating the socioeconomic and ecological function of those regions. Technological advances have made it possible to autonomously measure these parameters over timescales of weeks to months. These measurements are necessary to evaluate three-dimensional numerical models that can represent the spatial and temporal complexity of these parameters. Once the models adequately represent relevant aspects of the physical system, they can be used to evaluate possible future scenarios including sea-level rise, streamflow changes, land-use modifications, and geomorphic evolution.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Estuarine Processes Model Development
Below are data releases associated with the Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project.
Aerial imagery from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights: Plum Island Estuary and Parker River NWR (PIEPR), February 27th, 2018
Unvegetated to vegetated marsh ratio in Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Elevation of marsh units in Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Conceptual marsh units for Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Elevation of marsh units in Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Unvegetated to vegetated marsh ratio in Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Conceptual marsh units for Fire Island National Seashore and central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Conceptual marsh units for Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Elevation of marsh units in Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with the Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project.
A geospatially resolved wetland vulnerability index: Synthesis of physical drivers
Simple metrics predict salt-marsh sediment fluxes
Hydrodynamic and morphologic response of a back-barrier estuary to an extratropical storm
Spatial distribution of water level impact to back-barrier bays
Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon
Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning
Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays
Seagrass impact on sediment exchange between tidal flats and salt Marsh, and the sediment budget of shallow bays
Dynamic interactions between coastal storms and salt marshes: A review
Physical response of a back-barrier estuary to a post-tropical cyclone
Sensitivity analysis of a coupled hydrodynamic-vegetation model using the effectively subsampled quadratures method
Observations and a linear model of water level in an interconnected inlet-bay system
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling. Both the spatial and temporal scales of these mechanisms are important, and therefore require modern instrumentation and state-of-the-art hydrodynamic models. These projects are led from the U.S. Geological Survey's Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, but are collaborative projects that include participation from other U.S. Geological Survey offices, other federal and state agencies, and academic institutions.
Research
Estuarine processes, hazards, and ecosystems describes several interdisciplinary projects that aim to quantify and understand estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling.
Estuaries are dynamic environments where complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, watershed, ecosystems, and human infrastructure take place. They serve as valuable ecological habitat and provide numerous ecosystem services and recreational opportunities. However, they are modified by physical processes such as storms and sea-level rise, while anthropogenic impacts such as nutrient loading threaten ecosystem function within estuaries. This project collects basic observational data on these processes, develops numerical models of the processes, and applies the models to understand the past, present, and future states of estuaries.
Measuring parameters such as water velocity, salinity, sediment concentration, dissolved oxygen and other constituents in watersheds, tidal wetlands, estuaries, and coasts is critical for evaluating the socioeconomic and ecological function of those regions. Technological advances have made it possible to autonomously measure these parameters over timescales of weeks to months. These measurements are necessary to evaluate three-dimensional numerical models that can represent the spatial and temporal complexity of these parameters. Once the models adequately represent relevant aspects of the physical system, they can be used to evaluate possible future scenarios including sea-level rise, streamflow changes, land-use modifications, and geomorphic evolution.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Estuarine Processes Model Development
Below are data releases associated with the Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project.
Aerial imagery from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights: Plum Island Estuary and Parker River NWR (PIEPR), February 27th, 2018
Unvegetated to vegetated marsh ratio in Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Elevation of marsh units in Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Conceptual marsh units for Cape Cod National Seashore salt marsh complex, Massachusetts
Elevation of marsh units in Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Unvegetated to vegetated marsh ratio in Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Fire Island National Seashore and Central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Conceptual marsh units for Fire Island National Seashore and central Great South Bay salt marsh complex, New York
Mean tidal range in marsh units of Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Conceptual marsh units for Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Elevation of marsh units in Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with the Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project.
A geospatially resolved wetland vulnerability index: Synthesis of physical drivers
Simple metrics predict salt-marsh sediment fluxes
Hydrodynamic and morphologic response of a back-barrier estuary to an extratropical storm
Spatial distribution of water level impact to back-barrier bays
Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon
Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning
Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays
Seagrass impact on sediment exchange between tidal flats and salt Marsh, and the sediment budget of shallow bays
Dynamic interactions between coastal storms and salt marshes: A review
Physical response of a back-barrier estuary to a post-tropical cyclone
Sensitivity analysis of a coupled hydrodynamic-vegetation model using the effectively subsampled quadratures method
Observations and a linear model of water level in an interconnected inlet-bay system
Below are data releases associated with this project.