The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands :: Geology

The set up of Global Warming on WetlandsIntroductionWetlands atomic number 18 super reproductive ecosystems. Wetlands overwhelm marshes, estuaries, bogs, fens, swamps, deltas, shallow oceans, and floodplains. Wetland habitats support a vast project of whole kit and animal life, and serve a variety of important functions, which include peeing regime regulation, flood control, erosion control, nursery beas for fishes, fish production, recreation, put production, aesthetic enjoyment, and wildlife habitat. Wetlands account for about 6% of the global land playing area and are among the most valuable environmental resources.The ProblemThe potential impacts of clime flip on wetlands are of great concern. Increasing atmospheric concentrations of ascorbic acid dioxide and opposite greenhouse gases released by human activities are generally expect to inviolable the Earth a few degrees (C) in the next cytosine by a mechanism known as the greenhouse effect. much(prenomin al) heat could raise sea aim by expanding ocean water, resolve cud glaciers, and eventually causing polar ice sheets to side into the oceans. Among the coastal areas of greatest risk in the United States are those low-lying coastal habitats that are easily eroded and which occur along the northern gulf of Mexico and gray Atlantic coasts of the U.S. These coastal wetlands are especially vulnerable to direct, large-scale impacts of climate change, primarily because of their sensitivity to sea- take rise.Observational records hint that sea level has already risen between 10 and 25 cm globally over the past 100 classs. In addition, the Intergovernmental Panel on humour Change (IPCC) has projected a sea-level rise of 15-95 cm as a consequence of global warming. low-lying rise pass on in like manner make up the depth of coastal waters and increase landlocked and upriver salinity intrusion, both of which affect fresh and brackish water wetlands. Sea-level rise has the potential for increasing the severity of storm surges, especially in areas where coastal habitats and barrier shorelines are rapidly deteriorating. These direct consequences of global- and regional-scale changes allow for increase the vulnerability of coastal wetlands which are already heavily impacted by human activities.Analysis of sites in five coastal states indicate that some(prenominal) marshes and mangrove ecosystems receive adequate mineral sediments to produce equal organic fertilizer sediment and root material to remain above sea level at the present rate of sea-level rise (1-2 mm per year globally). However, three of the twelve wetlands studied were not keeping footfall with the watercourse rate of sea-level rise. If sea-level rise accelerates, some superfluous sites would as well as begin to slowly deteriorate and submerge.The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands GeologyThe Effects of Global Warming on WetlandsIntroductionWetlands are highly productive ec osystems. Wetlands include marshes, estuaries, bogs, fens, swamps, deltas, shallow seas, and floodplains. Wetland habitats support a vast range of plant and animal life, and serve a variety of important functions, which include water regime regulation, flood control, erosion control, nursery areas for fishes, fish production, recreation, plant production, aesthetic enjoyment, and wildlife habitat. Wetlands account for about 6% of the global land area and are among the most valuable environmental resources.The ProblemThe potential impacts of climate change on wetlands are of great concern. Increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by human activities are generally expected to warm the Earth a few degrees (C) in the next century by a mechanism known as the greenhouse effect. Such warming could raise sea level by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers, and eventually causing polar ice sheets to side into the oceans. Amon g the coastal areas of greatest risk in the United States are those low-lying coastal habitats that are easily eroded and which occur along the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coasts of the U.S. These coastal wetlands are especially vulnerable to direct, large-scale impacts of climate change, primarily because of their sensitivity to sea-level rise.Observational records indicate that sea level has already risen between 10 and 25 cm globally over the past 100 years. In addition, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected a sea-level rise of 15-95 cm as a consequence of global warming. Sea-level rise will also increase the depth of coastal waters and increase inland and upstream salinity intrusion, both of which affect fresh and brackish water wetlands. Sea-level rise has the potential for increasing the severity of storm surges, particularly in areas where coastal habitats and barrier shorelines are rapidly deteriorating. These direct consequ ences of global- and regional-scale changes will increase the vulnerability of coastal wetlands which are already heavily impacted by human activities.Analysis of sites in five coastal states indicate that many marshes and mangrove ecosystems receive adequate mineral sediments to produce enough organic sediment and root material to remain above sea level at the present rate of sea-level rise (1-2 mm per year globally). However, three of the twelve wetlands studied were not keeping pace with the current rate of sea-level rise. If sea-level rise accelerates, some additional sites would also begin to slowly deteriorate and submerge.