Predicting Sea-level Rise and Infrastructure Effects on Coastal Wetlands

• Autores: Rodriguez, Jose F.; Saco, Patricia M.; Sandi, Steven G.; Saintilan, Neil; Riccardi, Gerardo A.
• Año de publicación: 2017
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: documento de conferencia
• Materia: Coastal wetlands; Sea-level rise; Wetland evolution
• Institución: Universidad Nacional de Rosario

: Climate change predictions for Australia include an accelerated sea-level rise, wich challenges the survival of estuarine wetlands. Furthermore, coastal infrastructure poses and additional constraint on the adaptive capacity of these ecosystems. This paper presents results of wetland evolution based on hydro period and inundation depth experienced by vegetation, and computed using a hydrodynamic model. The application simulates the long-term evolution of wetland on the Hunter Estuary heavily constricted by infrastructure that is undergoing the effects of predicted accelerated sea-level rise. The wetland presents a vegetation zonation sequence mudflats –mangrove –saltmarsh from the seaward margin, but it also affected by compartmentalization due tu internal road embankments and culverts that effectively attenuates tidal inputs. Results of the modelo show that flow attenuation can play a major role in wetland hydrodynamics and that its effects can increase wetland vulnerability under climate change scenarios, particularly in situations where existing infrastructure affects the flow.
Fil: School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
Fil: Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ride, Australia
Fil: Departamento de Hidráulica, Escuela de Ingenieria Civil, Fac. de Cs. Exactas, Ingenieria y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Fil: Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario