The Effects of Storm Events on Soil Temperature in Salt Marshes

Salt marshes serve as critical constituents within the global ecosystem, functioning as essential carbon sinks and offering protection against erosion and water infiltration during storm surges. Regular inundation from high and spring tides characterizes these marshes, although they are also susceptible to submersion by storm surges. This study centers on comprehending the heightened repercussions of storm events on marshes due to their magnified consequences. Storms induce notable groundwater movement within salt marshes by enabling seawater to permeate the marshland. There is limited data pertaining to groundwater flow during storms with even less understanding on their implications on soil temperature, which is a key factor that influences marsh soil biogeochemical processes. To investigate the reaction of salt marsh soil temperatures due to storms, this research delves into the analysis of water levels and soil temperatures spanning various marsh sections, including the creek at the Estuarine Natural Research Reserve in Wells, Maine. This dataset spans from September 2021 until November 2022. This research gathered soil temperature measurements at different depths: D0, D10, and D50 (i.e., each representing distance in centimeters beneath the surface, D0). Mean and standard deviation of soil temperature data at each depth three days before and after the storm were examined to understand the impacts of these events on the marsh. The analysis incorporated T-statistics and P-values for result validation. The study revealed that water coverage significantly modifies or alters soil temperature without filtering the data. Moreover, it was observed that soil temperatures across all depths could be influenced if multiple storms occurred within a brief timeframe. These suggest that an increase in storm frequency has the potential to affect groundwater flow and alter soil temperatures in salt marshes.