Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Understanding the influence of saline saltwater intrusion and its impact on carbon sequestration in tidal marshland ecosystem: An isotope and organic biomarker based study |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Koushik saha, University Of North Bengal, West Bengal |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | koushiksaha09@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Tidal marshes are highly productive coastal ecosystems that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sequestering organic carbon (Corg). However, research on Corg storage in marsh ecosystems has primarily focused on salt marshes, neglecting the diversity across tidal wetlands. Tropical tidal marshes are relatively small, and tidal marshland is often overlooked due to its sporadic presence along river margins. In India, coastal regions are dominated by micro-meso-tidal realms, while only the northwestern coast of Gujarat and the northeastern coastal regions of West Bengal and Odisha conform to meso-macro-tidal coasts. The impacts of sea level rise on coastal carbon sinks remain unclear due to a lack of field research in tropical tidal marshlands. shifts in mass accumulation rates may impact the frequency with which Corg are buried, as sediment incorporation owing to saline saltwater incorporation affects Corg deposition on marshland ecosystems. Recent research has shown that environmental gradients along estuaries often result in declining Corg stocks with increasing salinity. However, current understanding of how tidal marshes impact overall Corg stocks and the mechanisms governing their magnitude is limited, mainly due to the lack of reliable and pertinent proxy. The proposed research aims to quantify organic carbon stocks in tidal marsh habitats on the northeast coast of India, showcasing the relevance of tidal marsh carbon in local and regional contexts. |
Total Budget (INR): | 18,04,000 |
Organizations involved