Ghost forests are growing as sea levels rise

[modrepub]

1. It's Not Just Forests

Sea-level Rise is Swallowing Farms in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia

A new study reveals the extent of saltwater intrusion on farmland in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia (DelMarVa), and outlines the economic costs to local communities. Across the globe, sea level is rising, and in the mid-Atlantic region, land is also sinking due to large geological shifts caused by climate change. The result is that saltwater intrudes into surface and groundwaters in low-lying areas, making the soils too salty for farming.

Researchers from the University of Maryland, University of Delaware and George Washington University collaborated on the study, which mapped the spread of saltwater intrusion from 2011 to 2017, and found that the area covered by visible salt patches almost doubled, with over 19,000 acres converted to marsh. Potential economic losses from the salt patches totaled over $427,000, with Sussex County, Delaware, experiencing the highest potential losses, estimated at $84,431.

The researchers also estimated potential economic losses of between $39-70 million annually due to the reduced yield in farmland within 200 meters of salt patches.