Rising seas allow coastal wetlands to store more carbon
Posted on: Sun 17 Mar 2019
Coastal wetlands don’t cover much global area but of all natural ecosystems they punch well above their carbon weight by sequestering the most atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Termed “blue carbon ecosystems” by virtue of their connection to the sea, the salty, oxygen-depleted soils in which wetlands grow are ideal for burying and storing organic carbon.
Research has found that carbon storage by coastal wetlands is linked to sea-level rise. The research findings suggest as sea levels rise, these wetlands can help mitigate climate change.
To find out more Barometer’s Des Lawrence speaks to Kerrylee Rogers, Associate Professor at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Wollongong.
Rising seas allow coastal wetlands to store more carbon
Produced by Des Lawrence
Image: Public Domain
