The marshlands of the Meadowlands of New Jersey are valuable wetland ecosystems in a highly developed urban area and provide a natural habitat to more than 285 species of birds, a great variety of fishes, and many other living organisms. It is not clear if these ecosystems and their associated ecological services will persist under conditions of accelerated sea level rise (SLR), in geography where space for a landward retreat of marshlands is limited. In this study, we used the deep rod surface elevation table method and feldspar marker horizons to measure surface elevation change and vertical accretion rate in five marshland sites over 11 years. The controlling parameters of the accretion rate were explored. The results showed that sediments were not limited for vertical accretion. About 16% of the total suspended solids reaching the marsh via the tide was trapped by the marsh surface. Hydraulic duty alone cannot explain differences in deposition rates between low and high marsh. Precipitation, snow accumulation, and sea surge from storms were the main drivers influencing subsidence. The overall subsidence rate was 1.5 ± 1.3 mm/year. All sites combined showed increases in surface elevation of 4.0 ± 0.7 mm/year. This rate of increase is not enough to keep up with the 8 mm/year SLR prediction. There is a 50% chance that in 80 years, 7% of current marshlands will be underwater or will convert to unvegetated mudflats, and most high marsh habitats will disappear.

新泽西州梅多兰兹的沼泽地是高度发达的城市地区的宝贵湿地生态系统，为285种以上的鸟类，多种鱼类和许多其他生物提供了自然栖息地。目前尚不清楚这些生态系统及其相关的生态服务是否会在海平面上升加速（SLR）的条件下（在有限的沼泽地陆地退缩空间有限的地理条件下）持续存在。在这项研究中，我们使用深杆表面高程表方法和长石标记层位来测量11年内五个沼泽地的表面高程变化和垂直吸积率。探索了吸积率的控制参数。结果表明，沉积物不受垂直积聚的限制。经由潮汐到达沼泽的全部悬浮固体的约16％被沼泽表面捕获。光靠水力就不能解释低沼泽和高沼泽之间沉积速率的差异。降水，积雪和暴风雨造成的海浪是影响沉降的主要因素。总体下陷率为1.5±1.3 mm /年。合并的所有站点显示的表面海拔增加了4.0±0.7 mm /年。这种增长速度不足以跟上8毫米/年SLR的预测。在80年内，有50％的可能性是，当前的沼泽地中有7％将在水下或转变为无植被的滩涂，而大多数高沼泽地将消失。风暴造成的海浪是影响沉降的主要因素。总体下陷率为1.5±1.3 mm /年。合并的所有站点显示的表面海拔增加了4.0±0.7 mm /年。这种增长速度不足以跟上8毫米/年SLR的预测。在80年内，有50％的可能性是，当前的沼泽地中有7％将在水下或转变为无植被的滩涂，而大多数高沼泽地将消失。风暴造成的海浪是影响沉降的主要因素。总体下陷率为1.5±1.3 mm /年。合并的所有站点显示的表面海拔增加了4.0±0.7 mm /年。这种增长速度不足以跟上8毫米/年SLR的预测。在80年内，有50％的可能性是，当前的沼泽地中有7％将在水下或转变为无植被的滩涂，而大多数高沼泽地将消失。