Salt Marsh Erosion Isn't Driven by Major Storms and Hurricanes

Hurricanes apparently aren't what cause salt marshes to erode. It turns out that it may be down to normal weather. Scientists have taken a closer look at these coastal wetlands to find out why they're retreating in many locations around the world.

Salt marshes nourish many different types of wildlife, which means that their retreat is cause for concern. However, it seems as if the biggest cause of erosion isn't violent storms, but is instead moderate storms.

"Waves are very powerful because they attack the marsh in its weakest part," said Nicoletta Leonardi, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Generally, the more a salt marsh is exposed to waves, the faster it is eroding."

In this latest study, the researchers studied eight salt marsh locations in Australia, Italy and the United States. The scientists found that the behavior of the salt marshes was very predictable and there was a constant relationship between wave energy and the speed of marsh erosion.

The researchers found that hurricanes and other violent storms contribute less than 1 percent of salt marsh deterioration in those marshes. Along the New England coast, for example, the moderate northeast storms that may hit every few months strip away far more from the marshes than the hurricanes that may sweep through a few times a decade.

"While hurricanes are catastrophic events, the salt marsh doesn't respond catastrophically," said Neil Kamal Ganju, co-author of the new study.

The findings reveal a bit more about salt marsh erosion. This is especially important to keep in mind for the future when considering how salt marshes may respond to storms and climate change.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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