CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Chmura, G.L.
Date : 2001.
Title : Century-scale salt marsh accretion rates in eastern Canada.
Publication : Canadian Quaternary Association/ Association canadienne pour l'etude du Quaternaire, Annual Meeting 2001. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, August 20 – 24, 2001.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
Salt marshes, which occur at a narrow elevation range spanning mean high water, are assumed to maintain elevation in pace with sea level changes. Tide gauges records from eastern Canada reflect rates of sea level rise that vary from a low of 21.2 cm per century at Escuminac, New Brunswick to more than twice that (47.5 cm per century) at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. If rates of salt marsh accretion are driven by rates of relative sea level rise, then marsh accretion rates should show similar geographic variation. This study compares marsh accretion rates in the vicinity of five tide gauges which represent a range of rates of sea level rise in eastern Canada: Escuminac, Rustico (PEI), Halifax, Yarmouth, and Eastport (Maine). In each region three marshes were cored, targeting sites of national and international significance such as the Ramsar sites Malpeque Bay (PEI) and Tabusintac River Estuary (NB) as well as PEI and Kouchibouguac National Parks (NB). In each marsh coring locations were selected from high marsh, vegetated by Spartina patens, thus controlling for elevation and flooding frequency. Accretion rates are determined by examination of the pattern of unsupported lead-210 with depth, providing a rate averaged over ~100 yr.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology