Sea Level Rise’s Impact

SLAMM predicts that infrequently flooded high marsh dominated saltmarshes, such as this along the Hammonasset River, are expected to change to low marsh dominated systems with more mudflats, affecting the suite of plants and animals that use the high marsh to breed and feed.
What will Long Island Sound Sound’s Coastal Habitats look like 50 or 100 years from now? The Long Island Sound Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model is providing possible scenarios. SLAMM is a model that simulates the dominant processes involved in wetland conversion and shoreline modifications during long-term sea level rise projections. For example, SLAMM predicts that infrequently flooded high marsh dominated salt marshes, such as these marshes at Hammonasset Beach State Park, are expected to change to low marsh dominated systems with more mudflats over a hundred years. LISS has a new web section that further explains SLAMM and how to use it.
Clinton Harbor area marshes in 2100. The eastern areas of the marsh are drowning, resulting in marshes changing to mudflats.
A projected map view of Clinton Harbor area (including Hammonasset Beach State Park)  marshes in 2100, according to a simulation based on the SLAMM model. The eastern areas of the marsh are drowning, resulting in marshes changing to mudflats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please complete your newsletter signup.

Subscribe to receive our e-newsletter, Sound Bytes by providing your email address. Interested in a free copy of our print newsletter, Sound Update? Then also provide your home/company/school address.