Identifying the effects of chronic saltwater intrusion in coastal floodplain swamps using remote sensing
Coastal floodplain swamps are an important part of the coastal wetland mosaic, however they are threatened due to accelerated rates of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion (SWI). In this newly published paper in Remote Sensing of Environment, Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands alum Dr. Elliott White and CCS Affiliate Faculty David Kaplan tested whether remote sensing can be used to develop a critical early-warning signal of ecosystem deterioration. Using a series of ecologically based hypotheses, they were able to detect differences CFS experiencing chronic, low-level SWI compared to controls using remote sensing data. These hypotheses were tested using data across a large and diverse region, supporting their implementation by researchers and managers seeking to identify CFS undergoing the first phases of SWI.