Mangroves: Sea level rise and elevation – A review

Abstract

The first mangrove forests appeared during the late cretaceous- Early tertiary period along Thethys Sea coasts. Since then, mangrove forests have faced and survived several catastrophic climate change events. The sea level is not and has not been constant. Studies carried out on mangrove peat prove mangroves extinction in various parts of the world due to abrupt sea-level rise. The response of mangrove in different geographic regions will depend on factors such as local rate of sea-level rise, coastal topography, and sediment supply rates. It is vital to understand mangrove floor dynamics to understand how mangroves will respond to rising sea-level. Rod surface elevation table is used worldwide to understand surface elevation or loss in wetlands. This paper deals with studying the work done using Rod Surface Elevation Table (RSET) technique to learn mangrove floor level changes worldwide. This literature review also reveals the gap in organised research studying mangrove surface elevation gain rates using RSET technique in India.