Effects of climate change on the occurrence of wet slacks in the dune system at Ainsdale

Clarke, D., Sanitwong Na Ayuttaya, S. and Abbott, R. (2008) Effects of climate change on the occurrence of wet slacks in the dune system at Ainsdale. Landform Ecology and Management. Sefton Coastal Partnership Conference September 2008 Sefons Dynamic Coast : Landform, Ecology and Management, Southport, UK. 01 Sep 2008.

Abstract

Slack floors in dune systems are important for biodiversity, but are dynamic in their characteristics, both spatially and in time. Slack floors can be characterised as dry, partly wet or flooded, depending on the water table levels and in each case they can support differing vegetation and animal species. This paper examines the effects of changes in water table levels on the location of wet slack floors in the Aindsale NNR. A groundwater model is used to calculate the water table levels on a month by month basis based on climatic, hydrological and vegetation conditions. Detailed topographic survey data at 2m grid intervals from LIDAR imagery are used to represent the ground surface in the slack floors. The expected slack type (dry, damp, flooded) is generated by intersecting the LIDAR digital terrain model with the predicted water table levels. The model has been used to calculate the distribution and frequency of occurrence of the wet slack floors between 1972 and 2004. The UKCIP’02 climate change predictions have been used to estimate the future extent and size of flooded slack floors at Ainsdale up to the year 2100.

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Contributors

Author: D. Clarke

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