Current Advances in Coastal Wetland Elevation Dynamics: Introduction to the Special Issue

Abstract

The thematic issue entitled, “Current Advances in Coastal Wetland Elevation Dynamics,” draws on topics from two special sessions at the CERF 2021 conference plus additional recent research describing scientific insights gained from the Surface Elevation Table–Marker Horizon (SET–MT) method and its application across the globe to quantify and understand subsurface process influences on wetland elevation change and wetland responses to sea-level rise. The findings group articles within each of five thematic topics. (1) A 30-year retrospective on the scientific insights gained on surface and shallow subsurface process dynamics. (2) Investigations of the subsurface soil process influences on wetland elevation. (3) How the scientific community applies the SET–MH method to quantify and understand wetland responses to RSLR and other environmental drivers such as altered hydrology and sediment supply. (4) How SET–MH data are used in long-term monitoring networks at different geographic scales. (5) Pairing the SET-MH method with (a) survey techniques to increase lateral coverage of wetland elevation trends and (b) geodetic measurements to increase vertical coverage of vertical land motion.