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Scientists are investigating how droughts impact root zones in wetlands.

Line chart with dates from 1895 on x axis and Monthly Palmer Drought Severity Indices from -8 to 8 on the y axis. Arrow points to a -6 in 2000 where there was a 100,000 acre coastal marsh browning event.

Surface water salinity tends to increase during droughts, but how does that impact the root zone in wetlands? Louisiana State University is evaluating the impact of historic drought and how it correlates to browning events in coastal wetlands. This NCCOS Event Response-funded study investigates: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/how-does-surface-salinity-impact-the-root-zone-in-a-wetland/