WHAT ARE MANGROVES?
Mangroves are trees that live in tropical and subtropical climates. Mangroves have tangling roots and leafy branches that provide protection for the many coastal settings they inhabit. Their ability to filter out pollution from the water, use its soil to soak up billions of tons of carbon, and reduce flooding and costal damage from large numbers of natural hazards (tsunamis, storm surges, sea level rise, and erosion) makes mangroves very beneficial to our ecosystem.
HOW DO MANGROVES WORK AGAINST A STORM SURGE?
I chose to research and study how mangroves react to and prevent storm surge impacts against a coastline. A storm surge occurs when there are high winds (like a hurricane) that cause water levels to rise and blow toward a coast. A storm surge can cause mass destruction and floods with its harsh waves. Mangrove's structure and closely knit roots and branches can weaken these waves, decreasing the impact the surge has on the coast. The water loses its energy when going through the roots and branches. According to Global Mangrove Alliance, "measured rates of storm surge reduction through mangroves range from 5 to 50 centimeters water reduction per kilometer of mangrove width." Also, surface waves caused by the high winds can be "reduced by more than 75% over one kilometer of mangroves"(mangrovealliance.org).