Monitoring tower to solve salt marsh carbon mystery

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new flux tower has been installed at Arne Moor in Dorset's Poole Harbour to monitor carbon storage in newly created salt marshes
• It will be the first in the UK to track carbon changes as land transitions from dry terrain to a wet, intertidal habitat
• The initiative is part of a broader effort to understand salt marshes' role in carbon sequestration

🔭 The context: The new tower joins a network of flux towers across England, including one at Blackwater Estuary, to measure carbon absorption by coastal ecosystems
• Salt marshes are recognized for their carbon storage capacity, wildlife habitats, and flood protection
• Despite their benefits, England has lost up to 85% of its salt marshes since the mid-19th century.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Restoring and studying salt marshes can enhance natural carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation
• Understanding carbon dynamics in these ecosystems can help inform conservation strategies and coastal resilience
• Salt marshes also provide critical habitats for wildlife and protect communities from climate-related flooding

⏭️ What's next: Continuous CO2 measurements will be taken to assess the carbon locked in the marsh as it develops
• Data gathered will inform future coastal restoration projects and policies aimed at increasing carbon storage

💬 One quote: “This is a perfect opportunity for us to chart the benefits of a new salt marsh from its creation," said Dr. Ben Green, senior advisor at the Environment Agency

📈 One stat: England has lost up to 85% of its salt marshes since the mid-19th century

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