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GCE-LTER Data Set Summary

Accession: GEL-GCED-1802 Research Theme: Geology (Directed Study)
Contributor: Christopher B. Craft
Title: Sediment elevation measurements from the GCE LTER Seawater Addition Long-Term Experiment (SALTEx) sampling sites from July 2013 to August 2022
Abstract: SALTEx (Seawater Addition Long-Term Experiment) is a field experiment designed to simulate saltwater intrusion in a tidal freshwater wetland to predict how chronic (Press) and acute (Pulse) salinization will affect this and other tidal freshwater ecosystems. The SALTEx experiment was initiated in 2012 and consists of 31 field plots, each 2.5 m on a side. There are three treatments (Press, Pulse, and Fresh) and two types of controls (with and without sides), each consisting of six replicates. The Press treatment plots receive regular (4 times each week) additions of a mixture of seawater and fresh river water. Pulse plots receive the same mixture of seawater and river water during September and October, which is historically a time of low flow in the river when natural saltwater intrusion occurs. The Fresh treatment plots receive regular additions of fresh river water. Treatment water is added during low tide to facilitate its infiltration into the soil, and all plots are inundated by astronomical tides at high tide. We are measuring soil surface elevation tables (SETs) in the plots as one of the response variables for the SALTEx project.
DOI: 10.6073/pasta/bd27073074035d008a43781f0501df7d
Key Words: accumulation, elevation, erosion, freshwater, marshes, organic matter, SALTEx, sea level, sediment, sediment elevation table, soil
LTER Core Area: Disturbance Patterns
Research Themes: Geology, Organic Matter/Decomposition
Study Period: 15-Jul-2013 to 22-Aug-2022
Study Sites:
SALTEx -- SALTEx Research Site, Champney Island, Georgia, USA
» Download Geographic Coverage: Google Earth
Research Protocols:

Completing the Deep Rod SET Bench Mark installations at Sapelo Island (Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER)
Publications:

Craft, C.B., Herbert, E., Li, F., Smith, D., Schubauer-Berigan, J.P., Widney, S., Angelini, C., Pennings, S.C., Medeiros, P.M., Byers, J. and Alber, M. 2016. Climate change and the fate of coastal wetlands. Wetland Science and Practice. 33(3):70-73.

Solohin, E., Widney, S. and Craft, C.B. 2020. Declines in plant productivity drive loss of soil elevation in a tidal freshwater marsh exposed to saltwater intrusion. Ecology. 101(12):13. (DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3148)

Thompson, M., Pennings, S.C., Schubauer-Berigan, J.P., Herbert, E., Costomiris, G. and Craft, C.B. 2024. Resistance and resilience: Tidal freshwater marsh response and recovery to acute and chronic saltwater intrusion. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. (DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108911)
Downloads: Information

Data Table: GEL-GCED-1802 (Main data table for data set GEL-GCED-1802, 7695 records)

Access: Public (released 20-Feb-2019)

Metadata: Text (ESA FLED), XML (Ecological Metadata Language)

Data Formats: Spreadsheet (CSV) [283.69kb],  Text File [227.66kb],  MATLAB (GCE Toolbox) [54.65kb],  MATLAB (Variables) [47.53kb],  Text Report [278.13kb]

Column List:(hide)

Column Name Units Type Description
1 Sample_Date YYYY-MM-DD string Calendar date of measurement
2 Plot none string Plot Name
3 Treatment none string Plot treatment
4 Moved_From none string Plot name prior to March 2015
5 Replicate none integer Replicate
6 Arm none integer Arm of SET measured
7 Pin_Number none integer Pin number
8 Elevation mm floating-point Height of pin above SET arm
9 Flag_Elevation none string QA/QC flags for Height of pin above SET arm (flagging criteria, where "x" is Elevation: x<0="I", x>400="I", x<100="Q", x>400="Q")
Statistics: Generate script code to retrieve data tables for analysis in: MATLAB, R, SAS, SPSS
Citation: Craft, Christopher B. 2018. Sediment elevation measurements from the GCE LTER Seawater Addition Long-Term Experiment (SALTEx) sampling sites from July 2013 to August 2022. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project, University of Georgia, Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/bd27073074035d008a43781f0501df7d

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants OCE-9982133, OCE-0620959, OCE-1237140 and OCE-1832178. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.