Ghost forest

A ghost forest is a coastal woodland characterized by widespread tree mortality as a result of saltwater intrusion and land submergence. Ghost forests commonly form when sea level rise, tectonic subsidence, or storm-driven coastal flooding increases soil salinity beyond the tolerance of freshwater tree species. The formation of ghost forests changes the surrounding ecology, often changing the deciduous forests into saltwater marshes or tidal wetlands.The expansion of ghost forests has been documented in multiple coastal regions and is associated with climate change-driven sea level rise, intense weather events, and altered hydrological conditions.

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