03-10-2019, 01:05 AM
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47472602
Muddy coastal marshes are called "sleeping giants" due to the fact that they could fight climate change. Scientists studied the mud in these wetlands and deducted that the sea level is linked to the amount of carbon wetlands store in their soil. As sea levels rise, sediment washes over tidal marshes. This causes carbon-rich material to be buried in the muddy layers. Coastal wetlands, specifically, are efficient at in-taking carbon and locking it away. In addition, when the marshland plants inevitably die, they bury themselves into the mud instead of decomposing and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The sediment from the sea water both traps organic matter and increases wetland elevation. "'With sea-level rise, this acts as an adaptation measure by enabling wetlands to build elevation as the sea rises.'" Wetlands can migrate on land as long as they have space. Doubling carbon stored in the wetlands would account for an additional five million tonnes of atmospheric carbon to be sucked into the mud every year. Knowing coastal wetlands are suffering in our day and age, I believe it is important to look further into protection of these areas. The fact that within a year, the amount of carbon stored in some of these wetlands could equate to removing about one million cars off the road is huge. I believe it is essential to international cooperate and discuss techniques in regards to these lands. This research is something to not gaze over; the potential carbon benefits is a great opportunity to help tackle climate change.
Muddy coastal marshes are called "sleeping giants" due to the fact that they could fight climate change. Scientists studied the mud in these wetlands and deducted that the sea level is linked to the amount of carbon wetlands store in their soil. As sea levels rise, sediment washes over tidal marshes. This causes carbon-rich material to be buried in the muddy layers. Coastal wetlands, specifically, are efficient at in-taking carbon and locking it away. In addition, when the marshland plants inevitably die, they bury themselves into the mud instead of decomposing and releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The sediment from the sea water both traps organic matter and increases wetland elevation. "'With sea-level rise, this acts as an adaptation measure by enabling wetlands to build elevation as the sea rises.'" Wetlands can migrate on land as long as they have space. Doubling carbon stored in the wetlands would account for an additional five million tonnes of atmospheric carbon to be sucked into the mud every year. Knowing coastal wetlands are suffering in our day and age, I believe it is important to look further into protection of these areas. The fact that within a year, the amount of carbon stored in some of these wetlands could equate to removing about one million cars off the road is huge. I believe it is essential to international cooperate and discuss techniques in regards to these lands. This research is something to not gaze over; the potential carbon benefits is a great opportunity to help tackle climate change.