Risk factors for coastal conservation revealed by the Canterbury earthquakes

We're pleased to announce publication of the companion paper to ‘Coastal tectonics and habitat squeeze’ in the international journal Science of the Total Environment.

Risk factors for the conservation of saltmarsh vegetation and blue carbon revealed by earthquake-induced sea-level rise

dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141241

This paper investigates the resilience of coastal vegetation to the effects of relative sea-level change which is the subject of very few empirical studies due to the scarcity of sea-level change events of appreciable magnitude in modern times. The novel opportunity provided by the Canterbury earthquakes allowed us to design a robust impact assessment to quantify effects and identify anthropogenic factors that influenced the pattern of losses or gains. 

The findings illustrate opportunities for managing risks to coastal vegetation types such as saltmarsh which are threatened by sea-level rise. 

The conservation of these characteristic ecosystems is of global importance for the sequestration and storage of blue carbon alongside many other ecosystem services that include considerable habitat values for characteristic wildlife such as waders and shorebirds in the Christchurch case.

In summarising results from the study we derived four key principles for building the resilience of coastal ecosystems that will be of interest to coastal managers worldwide.

Coastal tectonics and habitat squeeze

We're pleased to announce publication of a new paper in the international journal Natural Hazards.
This is the first chapter in the 'Resilient Shorelines' Ph.D. 

Coastal tectonics and habitat squeeze: Response of a tidal lagoon to co-seismic sea-level change

dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04147-w

The Canterbury earthquakes provided a rare opportunity to observe the actual effects of a sea-level rise event. This study explores the impacts of hydrological changes resulting from tectonic ground movement in low-lying coastal environments, and draws analogies with future climate change.

The paper describes landscape-scale changes and assess interactions with human land-use patterns and disaster recovery responses that include a large scale managed retreat. The results illustrate mechanisms by which 'coastal squeeze' effects may occur with sea-level rise - and also ways to avoid them through innovative planning and design.  

Principles identifiable from the actual impacts in this case provide useful insights for other situations of sea-level rise.

We highlight the need for an improved focus on whole-system resilience in responding to sea-level changes, and the importance of disaster recovery processes for adaptation to climate change.

See also a companion paper that evaluates impacts on coastal vegetation and consequences for conserving important ecosystems over time.

Case study on community-led restoration projects and climate change

A case study of three coastal restoration projects looking at community-led approaches and climate change is in the new publication "Adapting to the consequences of climate change: Engaging with communities".

Link to the article here "Community-led approaches and climate change: Perspectives from coastal restoration projects"

The aim of this new NZCS publication is to support work with communities as they adapt to the consequences of climate change. It has been written to assist coastal professionals, decision-makers and communities in preparing for sea-level rise and the associated effects of climate change.

2015 hottest year on record?

This recent information from NOAA is worth a look. It that shows very warm global conditions have prevailed since January.
 
via GIPHY

Read more about the trend versus historical averages on the Think Progress site here.

And some recent comment on the 10 things you need to know about climate change with implications for New Zealand.

There's a lot going on in the lead-up to the COP21 climate change summit in Paris ... watch this space!