How waves shape salt marshes

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 2014 How waves shape salt marshes Nicoletta Leonardi; Nicoletta Leonardi Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sergio Fagherazzi Sergio Fagherazzi Department of Earth and Environment, Boston University, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2014) 42 (10): 887–890. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35751.1 Article history received: 04 Apr 2014 rev-recd: 12 Jul 2014 accepted: 25 Jul 2014 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Nicoletta Leonardi, Sergio Fagherazzi; How waves shape salt marshes. Geology 2014;; 42 (10): 887–890. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35751.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We present high-resolution field measurements of five sites along the United States Atlantic Coast, and cellular automata simulations, to investigate the erosion of marsh boundaries by wave action. According to our analysis, when salt marshes are exposed to high wave energy conditions their boundaries erode uniformly. The resulting erosion events follow a Gaussian distribution, yielding a relatively smooth shoreline. On the contrary, when wind waves are weak and the local marsh resistance is strong, jagged marsh boundaries form. In this case, erosion episodes have a long-tailed frequency magnitude distribution with numerous low-magnitude events, but also high-magnitude episodes. The logarithmic frequency magnitude distribution suggests the emergence of a critical state for marsh boundaries, which would make the prediction of failure events impossible. Internal physical processes allowing salt marshes to reach this critical state are geotechnical and biological, and related to the nonhomogeneity of salt marshes whose material discontinuities act as stress raisers. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.