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Ghosts of the Coast

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Document the formation of ghost forests.

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  • Ongoing
Citizen ScienceOcean Water MarineEducationEcology & Environmenttidesaltwater marshwildfiressea level risefloodsurvey123droughtcoastalsapdying forestspartina patensland conversiongroundwatergeographylow elevationdelaware baygedan labeastern shoreglobal warmingcoastal ecologyshorelinechanging shorelinesalt stressblack needle rushmullica river estuarymarylandregenerationghost forestdying treescordgrasstree deaththe george washington universitystumpcattus islandvirginia coast reservesaltwater marshessaltwaterclimate changeforestgeorgiachesapeake bayhurricanesomerset countyfloodingdelawarephragmitessalt water intrusiontree stumpblackwater national refugecoastal marine ecologyswampsweet gumchanging landscapenew yorkecologystormgeologyeast coastpinedelmarva peninsulacedarmarsh migrationmid atlanticnew jerseydead treesprime hook national wildlife refugewoodkeryn gedanseawaterghosts of the coaststorymapestuarysalt waternorth carolinamaritime forestsaltsalt tolerantsouth carolinadisturbancesalineriverbankbleached treesrising seaskilling treesblue crabsawgrassfloridamarinesalt tolerant plantswetlandssoiltidal inundationtributariesvirginiacoastal educationmarsh
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The formation of ghost forests in response to sea level rise, land subsidence, and saltwater intrusion is a striking visual indicator of climate change. Ghost forests are characterized by lingering stands of dead trees that were recently killed by salt stress. Ghost forests can form in any type of forest, but the formation of ghost forests in the maritime forests of the Mid-Atlantic sea level rise hotspot has been rapid and conspicuous.

We are engaging citizen scientists to help document the formation of ghost forests at a larger scale. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness about the pace of change in coastal landscapes, while also collecting data that can inform ghost forest research.

Help us document ghost forest formation! Your recorded observations will populate a public collaborative ghost forest map as part of a larger ghost forest website.

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Ticket Required: No

Minimum Age: 13

Languages: English

Provided to SNM by
SciStarter