Rising seas are inundating US coastal wetlands, putting many on track to become open water
A new national study indicates that 84% of coastal wetlands in the United States are at risk of inundation due to rising sea levels. Researchers warn that many of these ecosystems may transform into open water unless they can migrate inland or accumulate sediment quickly enough.
Why it matters
Coastal wetlands are vital for protecting infrastructure and biodiversity; their loss poses significant risks to both human communities and wildlife.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Along the three coasts of the contiguous United States, a silent race unfolds. Fueled by climate change, sea levels rise faster than at any time in recent geologic history. Meanwhile, coastal wetlands cling to a slim lead, lifted on newly accumulated sediments or moving inland as encroaching tides nip at their heels.
Now, the first national-level study of this competition reveals that coastal wetlands—among the country's most valuable ecosystems, protecting infrastructure and providing homes for wildlife—are losing ground: 84% are gradually inundating, with many on track to transform into open water.
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