A field study on groundwater dynamics in a salt marsh - Chongming Dongtan wetland

Cao, Miao, Xin, Pei, Jin, Guangqiu and Li, Ling (2012) A field study on groundwater dynamics in a salt marsh - Chongming Dongtan wetland. Ecological Engineering, 40 : 61-69.


Author Cao, Miao
Xin, Pei
Jin, Guangqiu
Li, Ling
Title A field study on groundwater dynamics in a salt marsh - Chongming Dongtan wetland
Journal name Ecological Engineering  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-03
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.12.018
Volume number 40
ISSN 0925-8574; 1872-6992
Start page 61
End page 69
Total pages 9
Place of publication Amsterdam, Netherlands
Publisher Elsevier
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract Subsurface hydrology plays an important role in governing the behaviour of salt marshes, in particular, nutrient exchange, plant zonation and carbon cycling. The objective of this paper is to examine the hydrological characteristics of a salt marsh based on a field investigation conducted at a cross-creek section in the Chongming Dongtan wetland (Shanghai, China). Field measurements showed complex groundwater table fluctuations, controlled by multiple factors. The groundwater table near the creek responded quickly to the creek water level fluctuation, in contrast with the weak water table response in the marsh interior. The average elevation of the groundwater table near the creek was lower than that in the interior, suggesting that the optimal soil aeration condition occurred near the creek. The variations of pore water salinity along the cross-creek transect also appeared to be complex even though a low salinity zone remained present near the creek levee over the investigation period. Relatively strong pore water circulation near the creek prevented local solute accumulation. These results are essentially consistent with the hypothesis that the area near the creek is better suited for plant growth. In the marsh interior, weakened drainage and flushing effects may leave the soil largely saturated for a long period and suppress carbon exchange between the marsh soil and ambient environments (coastal water and atmosphere).
Keyword Salt marsh
Plant growth
Groundwater table fluctuation
Chongming Dongtan wetland
Yangtze estuary
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: School of Civil Engineering Publications
Official 2013 Collection
 
Versions
Version Filter Type
Citation counts: TR Web of Science Citation Count  Cited 2 times in Thomson Reuters Web of Science Article | Citations
Scopus Citation Count Cited 3 times in Scopus Article | Citations
Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
Access Statistics: 59 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Mon, 09 Apr 2012, 12:02:18 EST by System User on behalf of School of Civil Engineering