Mapping methane reduction potential of tidal wetland restoration in the United States
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Coastal wetlands can emit excess methane in cases where they are impounded and artificially freshened by structures that impede tidal exchange. We provide a new assessment of coastal methane reduction opportunities for the contiguous United States by combining multiple publicly available map layers, reassessing greenhouse gas emissions datasets, and applying scenarios informed by geospatial information system and by surveys of coastal managers. Independent accuracy assessment indicates that coastal impoundments are under-mapped at the national level by a factor of one-half. Restorations of freshwater-impounded wetlands to brackish or saline conditions have the greatest potential climate benefit of all mapped conversion opportunities, but were rarer than other potential conversion events. At the national scale we estimate potential emissions reduction for coastal wetlands to be 0.91 Teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalents year−1, a more conservative assessment compared to previous estimates. We provide a map of 1,796 parcels with the potential for tidal re-connection.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Mapping methane reduction potential of tidal wetland restoration in the United States |
| Series title | Communications Earth & Environment |
| DOI | 10.1038/s43247-023-00988-y |
| Volume | 4 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | 353, 10 p. |
| Country | United States |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |