Dataset: Sea-level rise impacts on tidal marshes and estuarine biogeochemical processes
Document Type
Data
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
VIMS Department/Program
C.K. Harris Data Archive
Publication Date
2023
Spatial Information
Chesapeake Bay, York River
Data Access
Zip files available on Link to Full Text button.
Abstract
We used a numerical model to investigate the effects of Sea-level Rise (SLR) on the biogeochemical processes in the York River Estuary with extensive tidal marshes. The fully-coupled hydrodynamic-water quality-marsh model accounts for the spatial and temporal variations of physical-biogeochemical interactions between the tidal marshes and surrounding waters. This study focuses on an SLR scenario where the vertical accretion of tidal marshes keeps pace with the rising sea levels. Results show that SLR amplifies the tidal range and prolongs flooding duration, which results in enhanced porewater exchanges of materials between the tidal marshes and the surrounding waters. The increased availability of shallow-water habitats and enhanced light utilization in the shallow areas under SLR promote phytoplankton production in the shallow-water regions of the York River. Consequently, the organic carbon in the open water is fueled by the contributions from shallow waters and the enhanced export of organic carbon from the marshes. The change in the dissolved oxygen (DO) budget in the York River Estuary is attributed to changes in water column respiration, net metabolism of the benthic layer, reaeration, phytoplankton production, and increased stratification under SLR. The net DO flux out of the York River increases at the York River mouth. Diel DO variation, especially in the marshes in the upper estuary, promotes phosphorus release from the sediment. The changes in dissolved nitrogen under SLR are relatively minimal.
Description
Files Description:
Two SCHIM model inputs zip file.
Keywords
SCHISM; Chesapeake Bay; Modeling; York River Estuary; Tidal Marsh
Associated Publications
Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences [publication in revision]
Funding
This research was financially supported by the Virginia Commonwealth Research Fellowship and supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We received tremendous guidance and supports from drs. Carl Cerco, Carl Hershner, Mark Brush, and Marjy Friedrichs in this study. Simulations presented in this paper were conducted using Sciclone at William & Mary, which was provided with assistance from the National Science Foundation, the Virginia Port Authority, Virginia’s Commonwealth Technology Research Fund, and the Office of Naval Research.
Recommended Citation
Cai, Xun; Shen, Jian; Zhang, Yinglong J.; Qin, Qubin; and Linker, Lewis, "Dataset: Sea-level rise impacts on tidal marshes and estuarine biogeochemical processes" (2023). Data. William & Mary.
