Coastal wetlands worldwide are retreating owing to several anthropogenic pressures and accelerated sea level rise (SLR). The importance of preserving salt marshes and the services they provide is being increasingly recognized and wetlands have become the target of several international initiatives and conservation regulations. Thus, geospatial models with applicable high spatial resolution results estimating the potential development of wetland habitats under climate change are urgently needed in order to prepare proper conservation measures and management strategies in an opportune moment. This study aimed at predicting the potential impact of SLR on salt marsh habitats in the Venice Lagoon. Habitat turnover over time was modelled based on a fine-scale vegetation map, relative elevation measurements, and most relevant environmental data (subsidence and accretion) connected with SLR. Three model-based SLR scenarios (GFDL P50, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) and the local linear trend were considered. Clear differences between the northern and southern parts of the lagoon emerged. By 2075, 37 to 48% (model-based scenarios) or even 51% (linear scenario) of the Venice lagoon coastal habitats could lie under water. Although nearly all habitats evidenced a decrease in their extent by 2050 and beyond, our results also suggest that different types of marshes will respond differently to SLR. Exactly this information (what, where and when) is of crucial importance for decision makers to initiate enhance planning and management policies. Moreover, the forecasted changes in tidal marsh area and the presented cost effective methodological approach is transferable to other temperate areas faced with comparable SLR rates.

The fate of coastal habitats in the Venice Lagoon from the sea level rise perspective

Fantinato, Edy;Del Vecchio, Silvia;Buffa, Gabriella
2018-01-01

Abstract

Coastal wetlands worldwide are retreating owing to several anthropogenic pressures and accelerated sea level rise (SLR). The importance of preserving salt marshes and the services they provide is being increasingly recognized and wetlands have become the target of several international initiatives and conservation regulations. Thus, geospatial models with applicable high spatial resolution results estimating the potential development of wetland habitats under climate change are urgently needed in order to prepare proper conservation measures and management strategies in an opportune moment. This study aimed at predicting the potential impact of SLR on salt marsh habitats in the Venice Lagoon. Habitat turnover over time was modelled based on a fine-scale vegetation map, relative elevation measurements, and most relevant environmental data (subsidence and accretion) connected with SLR. Three model-based SLR scenarios (GFDL P50, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) and the local linear trend were considered. Clear differences between the northern and southern parts of the lagoon emerged. By 2075, 37 to 48% (model-based scenarios) or even 51% (linear scenario) of the Venice lagoon coastal habitats could lie under water. Although nearly all habitats evidenced a decrease in their extent by 2050 and beyond, our results also suggest that different types of marshes will respond differently to SLR. Exactly this information (what, where and when) is of crucial importance for decision makers to initiate enhance planning and management policies. Moreover, the forecasted changes in tidal marsh area and the presented cost effective methodological approach is transferable to other temperate areas faced with comparable SLR rates.
2018
98
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2018_Ivajinsic_etal_.pdf

Open Access dal 02/07/2019

Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Accesso chiuso-personale
Dimensione 1.77 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.77 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in ARCA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10278/3701803
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 16
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 13
social impact