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USGS · 70210172

Representing the function and sensitivity of coastal interfaces in Earth system models

Nicholas Ward·J. Patrick Megonigal·Ben Bond-Lamberty·Vanessa Bailey·David Butman·Elizabeth Canuel·Heida Diefenderfer·Neil K. Ganju·Miguel Goni·Emily B. Graham·Charles Hopkinson·Tarang Khangaonkar·Adam Langley·Nate McDowell·Allison Myers-Pigg·Rebecca Neumann·Christopher Osburn·Rene Price·Joel Rowland·Aditi Sengupta·Marc Simard·Peter E. Thornton·Maria Tzortziou·Rodrigo Vargas·Pamela Weisenhorn·Lisamarie Windham-Myers
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Abstract

Along coastal interfaces, components of the Earth system interact to regulate ecosystem functions and Earth’s climate. Between the land and ocean, diverse coastal ecosystem types transform, store, and transport material. A dynamic two-way exchange of energy and matter is driven by hydrological and marine processes such as river and groundwater discharge, tides, waves, and storms. Global models lack representation of coastal processes and related feedbacks on Earth’s climate and ecosystems, impeding their predictions of coastal and global response to change. We recommend leveraging existing monitoring networks and regional models to develop and validate global models that include the coastal interface.

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Nicholas Ward, J. Patrick Megonigal, Ben Bond-Lamberty, Vanessa Bailey, David Butman, Elizabeth Canuel, Heida Diefenderfer, Neil K. Ganju, Miguel Goni, Emily B. Graham, Charles Hopkinson, Tarang Khangaonkar, Adam Langley, Nate McDowell, Allison Myers-Pigg, Rebecca Neumann, Christopher Osburn, Rene Price, Joel Rowland, Aditi Sengupta, Marc Simard, Peter E. Thornton, Maria Tzortziou, Rodrigo Vargas, Pamela Weisenhorn, Lisamarie Windham-Myers. 2020-05-18. Representing the function and sensitivity of coastal interfaces in Earth system models. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16236-2

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