Salt Marshes Offer Significant Coastal Protection Against Storms

New research published in Nature reveals that salt marshes can endure extreme wave events with minimal erosion, providing optimal flood protection for coastlines facing moderate storms. Experiments conducted in a large wave flume demonstrated that while the underlying marsh ground remains stable, damage to plants can diminish their capacity to dissipate waves. These findings are crucial for identifying areas where salt marsh conservation and restoration efforts would be most effective.