Global hotspots of salt marsh change and carbon emissions

Anthony D. Campbell (), Lola Fatoyinbo, Liza Goldberg and David Lagomasino
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Anthony D. Campbell: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center
Lola Fatoyinbo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center
Liza Goldberg: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center
David Lagomasino: East Carolina University

Nature, 2022, vol. 612, issue 7941, 701-706

Abstract: Abstract Salt marshes provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration1, coastal protection2, sea-level-rise (SLR) adaptation3 and recreation4. SLR5, storm events6, drainage7 and mangrove encroachment8 are known drivers of salt marsh loss. However, the global magnitude and location of changes in salt marsh extent remains uncertain. Here we conduct a global and systematic change analysis of Landsat satellite imagery from the years 2000–2019 to quantify the loss, gain and recovery of salt marsh ecosystems and then estimate the impact of these changes on blue carbon stocks. We show a net salt marsh loss globally, equivalent to an area double the size of Singapore (719 km2), with a loss rate of 0.28% year−1 from 2000 to 2019. Net global losses resulted in 16.3 (0.4–33.2, 90% confidence interval) Tg CO2e year−1 emissions from 2000 to 2019 and a 0.045 (−0.14–0.115) Tg CO2e year−1 reduction of carbon burial. Russia and the USA accounted for 64% of salt marsh losses, driven by hurricanes and coastal erosion. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of salt marsh systems to climatic changes such as SLR and intensification of storms and cyclones.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05355-z

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