Accelerated marsh erosion following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill confirmed, ameliorated by planting.

ABSTRACT: Multiple studies have examined the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on coastal marsh shoreline erosion. Most studies have concluded that the spill increased shoreline erosion (linear retreat) in oiled marshes by ~ 100-200% for at least 2-3 years. However, two studies have called much of this prior research into question, due to potential study design flaws and confounding factors, primarily tropical cyclone influences and differential wave exposure between oiled (impact) and unoiled (reference) sites. Here we confirm that marsh erosion in our field experiment was substantially increased (112-233%) for 2 years in heavily oiled marsh after the spill, likely due to vegetation impacts and reduced soil shear strength attributed to the spill, rather than the influences of hurricanes or

SUBMITTER: Zengel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9376092 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature