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Ghosts of the Coast

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Document the formation of ghost forests.

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Citizen ScienceOcean Water MarineEducationEcology & Environmentphragmitesmid atlanticmarylandtidal inundationestuarykeryn gedangeorgiacedarsalt stresssalt tolerant plantsdelawareeast coastchanging landscaperising seasgeographyforestcordgrasssaltwater marshesghosts of the coasteastern shoremaritime forestdead treesnew jerseyvirginiageologyland conversionsawgrasstidelow elevationwetlandstributariesprime hook national wildlife refugechanging shorelineblue crabsalt tolerantsoilseawatersaltwater marshdelaware baysalt watermarshsomerset countyfloodstorymapregenerationcattus islandstumpdying forestsweet gumecologysalt water intrusionsouth carolinafloridadying treessea level risesaltghost forestsalinestormsaltwaterblackwater national refugewoodblack needle rushcoastal marine ecologyriverbankfloodingmullica river estuarycoastalgedan labkilling treesglobal warminggroundwaterdelmarva peninsulasurvey123disturbancemarineswampcoastal educationnew yorkwildfiresshorelinemarsh migrationspartina patenscoastal ecologyvirginia coast reserveclimate changechesapeake baysappinedroughthurricanetree deathnorth carolinatree stumpthe george washington universitybleached trees
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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

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