The tree that gave birth to a forest
This 10 centimetre giant is a pioneer of marine conquest. All summer, glassworts (Salicornia europaea) will be rhythmically swept by the tide, gradually trapping seaborne sediment on the shores of Aberlady Bay in Scotland. The resulting elevation of the mudflat marks the start of a race of growth against waves, currents and sea level rise, eventually leading to the development of a salt marsh. However, even in sheltered bays this race is seldom won, and coastal wetlands across the world are retreating an alarming rate, a trend in which mankind plays no small role.
Taken on 19
July
2016
Submitted on 26 February 2017
Categories
Location
- Europe (3400)
- Northern Europe (798)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (164)
- Exact location (-2.8578 W, 56.0112 N)
Tags
coastal erosion, saltmarsh, coastal wetland, salicornia
Colour palette
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2112 × 2816 px;
image/jpeg; 1.4 MB
Camera:
Canon PowerShot D30
Software: n/a
Licence
Credit: Guillaume Goodwin (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)
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