The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery
<p>Slump blocks are widely distributed features along marsh shorelines that can disturb marsh edge habitats and affect marsh geomorphology and sediment dynamics. However, little is known about their spatial distribution patterns or their longevity and movement. We employed an unoccupied aerial...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Biogeosciences |
| Online Access: | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/1757/2024/bg-21-1757-2024.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797216887644356608 |
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| author | Z. Yang Z. Yang Z. Yang C. Alexander C. Alexander M. Alber |
| author_facet | Z. Yang Z. Yang Z. Yang C. Alexander C. Alexander M. Alber |
| author_sort | Z. Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Slump blocks are widely distributed features along marsh shorelines that can disturb marsh edge habitats and affect marsh geomorphology and sediment dynamics. However, little is known about their spatial distribution patterns or their longevity and movement. We employed an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) to track slump blocks in 11 monthly images (March 2020–March 2021) of Dean Creek, a tidal creek surrounded by salt marsh located on Sapelo Island (GA, USA). Slump blocks were observed along both convex and concave banks of the creek in all images, with sizes between 0.03 and 72.51 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>. Although the majority of blocks were categorized as persistent, there were also new blocks in each image. Most blocks were lost through submergence, and both decreased in area and moved towards the center of the channel over time. However, some blocks reconnected to the marsh platform, which has not been previously observed. These blocks were initially larger and located closer to the marsh edge than those that submerged, and they increased in area over time. Only 13 out of a cohort of 61 newly created blocks observed in May 2020 remained after 5 months, suggesting that most blocks persist for only a short time. When taken together, the total area of new slump blocks was 886 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>, and that of reconnected blocks was 652 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>. This resulted in a net expansion of the channel by 234 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span> over the study period, accounting for about 66 % of the overall increase in the channel area of Dean Creek, and this suggests that slump block processes play an important role in tidal creek channel widening. This study illustrates the power of repeated UAV surveys to monitor short-term geomorphological processes, such as slump block formation and loss, to provide new insights into marsh eco-geomorphological processes.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:53:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3eaa36462964449280fe17452d6f57b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1726-4170 1726-4189 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T11:53:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biogeosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-3eaa36462964449280fe17452d6f57b82024-04-09T06:11:10ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892024-04-01211757177210.5194/bg-21-1757-2024The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imageryZ. Yang0Z. Yang1Z. Yang2C. Alexander3C. Alexander4M. Alber5Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USASkidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Georgia, Savannah, GA, 31411, USAnow at: Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USASkidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Georgia, Savannah, GA, 31411, USADepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA<p>Slump blocks are widely distributed features along marsh shorelines that can disturb marsh edge habitats and affect marsh geomorphology and sediment dynamics. However, little is known about their spatial distribution patterns or their longevity and movement. We employed an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) to track slump blocks in 11 monthly images (March 2020–March 2021) of Dean Creek, a tidal creek surrounded by salt marsh located on Sapelo Island (GA, USA). Slump blocks were observed along both convex and concave banks of the creek in all images, with sizes between 0.03 and 72.51 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>. Although the majority of blocks were categorized as persistent, there were also new blocks in each image. Most blocks were lost through submergence, and both decreased in area and moved towards the center of the channel over time. However, some blocks reconnected to the marsh platform, which has not been previously observed. These blocks were initially larger and located closer to the marsh edge than those that submerged, and they increased in area over time. Only 13 out of a cohort of 61 newly created blocks observed in May 2020 remained after 5 months, suggesting that most blocks persist for only a short time. When taken together, the total area of new slump blocks was 886 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>, and that of reconnected blocks was 652 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span>. This resulted in a net expansion of the channel by 234 <span class="inline-formula">m<sup>2</sup></span> over the study period, accounting for about 66 % of the overall increase in the channel area of Dean Creek, and this suggests that slump block processes play an important role in tidal creek channel widening. This study illustrates the power of repeated UAV surveys to monitor short-term geomorphological processes, such as slump block formation and loss, to provide new insights into marsh eco-geomorphological processes.</p>https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/1757/2024/bg-21-1757-2024.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Z. Yang Z. Yang Z. Yang C. Alexander C. Alexander M. Alber The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery Biogeosciences |
| title | The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| title_full | The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| title_fullStr | The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| title_short | The dynamics of marsh-channel slump blocks: an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| title_sort | dynamics of marsh channel slump blocks an observational study using repeated drone imagery |
| url | https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/21/1757/2024/bg-21-1757-2024.pdf |
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