Articles | Volume 23, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-751-2026
Copyright waived. This work has been dedicated to the public domain (Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication).
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-751-2026
Copyright waived. This work has been dedicated to the public domain (Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication).
Research article
| 
26 Jan 2026
Research article |
| 26 Jan 2026
Sea-level rise in a coastal marsh: linking increasing tidal inundation, decreasing soil strength and increasing pond expansion
Mona Huyzentruyt
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
ECOSPHERE research group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Lennert Schepers
ECOSPHERE research group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Matthew L. Kirwan
Virginia Institute for Marine Science, Williams and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia, USA
Glenn R. Guntenspergen
U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Duluth, MN, USA
Stijn Temmerman
ECOSPHERE research group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Short summary
In some tidal marshes, vegetation can convert to ponds as a result of sea level rise. We investigated to what extent this is related to decreasing strength of the marsh soil in relation to sea level rise. We found a reduction of marsh soil strength in areas with more inundation by sea water and more ponding, which results in easier erosion of the marsh and thus further expansion of ponds. This decrease in marsh soil strength is highly related to lower content of roots in the soil.
In some tidal marshes, vegetation can convert to ponds as a result of sea level rise. We...
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