Mangroves will not survive sea level rise

US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — Scientists have reported that mangroves will not survive the impending rise in sea level by 2050. The Daily Mail informs.

Coastal mangroves found in places with a warm climate help protect coastlines from erosion and create a protected habitat.

Scientists from the University of Rutgers-New Brunswick in New Jersey investigated sediments formed about 10 thousand years ago. It turned out that at that time mangroves tried to outgrow rising sea levels. The ecosystem around them became more vulnerable.

This study helped to understand how mangrove ecosystems reacted to changes in sea level millennia ago, and also to find out what changes should be expected in the future. Experts predict a similar pace of sea level rise by 2050.

Ten thousand years ago, sea level rose at a speed of 10 mm per year, but after 4 thousand years it fell to normal values. During this time, mangrove plants increased the amount of carbon that they are able to hold, which subsequently affected the decrease in greenhouse gases.

Scientists believe that mangroves can survive at sea-level growth rates of no more than 5 millimeters per year.

“The loss of these mangrove ecosystems can lead to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and a decrease in the number of vital buffers that protect against storm waves,” the researchers said.
The findings of scientists emphasize the importance of conserving mangroves that mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

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