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Tides In Pictures and In Words

<< 11/12 < > During episodes of gradual sea level increase, salt marshes can keep pace with the rising water levels by backfilling, that is by trapping sediments and their own organic detritus in the water column. This raises the bottom, offsetting the rise in water level, and giving the plant species time to adjust to the change by moving progressively landward. However, if the sea level rises significantly faster than the rate at which the marsh can respond, the marsh will drown and be lost.

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