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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 & Environmentsawgrassland conversionkeryn gedanclimate changeghosts of the coasttidal inundationtree stumpsea level risesalinemarshsalt tolerant plantskilling treesmarsh migrationdying forestestuarymaritime foresttree deathfloodingmid atlanticchanging landscapetideforeststorymapeast coastdelmarva peninsuladelaware bayblue crabwooddisturbancedelawaredead treesphragmitesmarylandcordgrassdroughtspartina patenswetlandsnew jerseysalt watersurvey123mullica river estuarysapsaltwater marshgeographyecologysaltsaltwater marsheschesapeake bayfloridablack needle rushvirginia coast reservehurricanesalt tolerantsomerset countystumpcoastal marine ecologypinenorth carolinaprime hook national wildlife refugenew yorkstormgeorgiamarinevirginiaglobal warmingcedargeologycoastal educationseawatersweet gumeastern shoreregenerationsouth carolinachanging shorelineriverbanksoilcoastal ecologygroundwaterfloodshorelinecoastalsaltwaterthe george washington universitycattus islandtributariesblackwater national refugesalt stressswampghost forestbleached treeswildfiresrising seaslow elevationgedan labsalt water intrusiondying 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

Provided to SNM by
SciStarter