Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-428
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-428
22 May 2023
 | 22 May 2023

Mangrove ecosystem properties regulate high water levels in a river delta

Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue

Abstract. Intertidal wetlands, such as mangroves in the tropics, are increasingly recognized for their role in nature-based mitigation of coastal flood risks. Yet it is still poorly understood how effective they are in attenuating the propagation of extreme sea levels through large (order of 100 km2) estuarine or deltaic systems, with complex geometry formed by networks of branching channels intertwined with mangrove and intertidal flat areas. Here, we present a delta-scale hydrodynamic modelling study, aiming to explicitly account for these complex landforms, for the case of the Guayas delta (Ecuador), the largest estuarine system at the Pacific coast of Latin America. Despite coping with data scarcity, our model accurately reproduces the observed propagation of high water levels during a spring tide. Further, based on a model sensitivity analysis, we show that high water levels are most sensitive to the mangrove platform elevation and degree of channelization, but to a much lesser extent to vegetation-induced friction. Mangroves with a lower surface elevation, lower vegetation density and higher degree of channelization all favour a more efficient flooding of the mangroves and therefore more effectively attenuate the high water levels in the deltaic channels. Our findings indicate that vast areas of channelized mangrove forests, rather than densely vegetated forests, are most effective for nature-based flood risk mitigation in a river delta.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Sep 2023
Mangrove ecosystem properties regulate high water levels in a river delta
Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3169–3183, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3169-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3169-2023, 2023
Short summary
Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Jun 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Anonymous Referee #1, 20 Jun 2023
    • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Anonymous Referee #2, 30 Jun 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-428', Ignace Pelckmans, 11 Jul 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (15 Jul 2023) by Dhruvesh Patel
AR by Ignace Pelckmans on behalf of the Authors (17 Jul 2023)  Author's response 
EF by Polina Shvedko (18 Jul 2023)  Manuscript   Author's tracked changes 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (18 Jul 2023) by Dhruvesh Patel
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (24 Jul 2023)
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (03 Aug 2023)
ED: Publish as is (16 Aug 2023) by Dhruvesh Patel
ED: Publish as is (24 Aug 2023) by Daniela Molinari (Executive editor)
AR by Ignace Pelckmans on behalf of the Authors (24 Aug 2023)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Sep 2023
Mangrove ecosystem properties regulate high water levels in a river delta
Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3169–3183, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3169-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3169-2023, 2023
Short summary
Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue
Ignace Pelckmans, Jean-Philippe Belliard, Luis E. Dominguez-Granda, Cornelis Slobbe, Stijn Temmerman, and Olivier Gourgue

Viewed

Total article views: 418 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
287 115 16 418 5 5
  • HTML: 287
  • PDF: 115
  • XML: 16
  • Total: 418
  • BibTeX: 5
  • EndNote: 5
Views and downloads (calculated since 22 May 2023)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 22 May 2023)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 435 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 435 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Latest update: 06 Sep 2024
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Mangroves are increasingly recognised as a coastal protection against extreme sea levels. Their effectiveness in doing so, however, is still poorly understood as mangroves are typically located in tropical countries were data on mangrove vegetation and topography properties are typically scarce. Through a modelling study we identified the degree of channelisation and mangrove forest floor topography as the key properties in regulating high water levels in a tropical delta.