Knowra Coastal wetland Coastal wetland A low-lying coastal ecosystem periodically flooded by tides, river water, or both. Its waterlogged soils support organisms adapted to changing salinity and inundation.
Tidal range : The vertical difference between high and low tide over a given period. The range of tidal flooding shapes wetland elevation zones and water exchange.
Tidal prism : The volume of water entering or leaving a tidal basin between high and low tide. Its flow through wetland channels drives tidal exchange and transports suspended material.
Coastal protection : Measures that reduce erosion, flooding, and other hazards along shorelines. Wetland vegetation and soils can buffer waves and storm-driven water.
Biodiversity : The variety of life across genes, species, and ecosystems. Wetland habitat mosaics sustain diverse plants, animals, and microbial communities.
Estuary : A coastal water body where river water mixes with seawater. Many coastal wetlands occupy estuaries, where freshwater and tides meet.
Blue carbon : Carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. Wetland vegetation and waterlogged soils can retain carbon for long periods.
Nature-based solutions : Actions that protect, manage, or restore ecosystems to address societal challenges. Wetland conservation and restoration can complement engineered coastal defenses.
Sea level rise : An increase in the average level of the ocean relative to land. Rising seas can drown wetlands unless sediment accumulation or landward migration keeps pace.
Salinity : The concentration of dissolved salts in water. Salinity helps determine which plants and animals can live in a wetland.
Biogeochemical cycling : The movement and transformation of chemical elements through organisms and the environment. Flooding and plant growth regulate nutrient and carbon transfers in wetland soils.
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