Seasonal measurements of sediment elevation in three mid-Atlantic estuaries

D. L. Childers, F. H. Sklar, B. Drake, T. Jordan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Relative sediment elevations have been measured seasonally since Spring, 1990, in three estuaries representing a range of estuarine geomorphologies, sizes, and watershed inputs: the North Inlet estuary South Carolina (SC), the Patuxent River estuary, Maryland (MD), and the Rhode River estuary, Maryland (MD). Results from North Inlet showed sediment elevations increasing at the greatest rates at locations nearest to freshwater influence. These rates were two to three times apparent sea level rise (ASLR), which is 2-4 mm yr -1 in all three estuaries. Sediment elevations generally increased at the Patuxent River tributary marsh sites, but at greater rates in lower river than upper river tributaries. In contrast, a lower river main channel marsh and upper river mudflat appeared to be eroding while a middle river marsh and mudflat appeared to be accreting. The Rhode River study, showed that small-scale variability in brackish marsh sediment elevations may be much greater than seasonal or long-term differences. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)986-1003
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Coastal Research
Volume9
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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