Mangrove spatial and temporal dynamic in French Guiana between 1950 and 2014: atmospheric forcing and implication for coastal carbon stock

• Main Author: Walcker, Romain
• Other Authors: Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (ECOLAB), Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National Polytechnique (Toulouse) (Toulouse INP), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, Fromard Francois([e-mail]), Anthony Edward J.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: French
• Published: HAL CCSD 2015
• Subjects: Mangrove; Carbon; North Atlantic Oscillation; Ocean waves; Mud banks; French Guiana; carbone; Oscillation Nord Atlantique; vagues; bancs de vase; Guyane; geo; envir; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01297562/file/Ms_Th%C3%A8se_Walcker_etcouv.pdf; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01297562

Mangroves in French Guiana are characterized by their spatial dynamism. This specificity is the result of intense coastal sedimentary processes. The goals of this study are to: (1) quantify mangrove spatial dynamics on a regional level and a multi-decadal timescale using archives of remote sensing images; (2) test the hypothesis of the role played by the atmosphere using correlations with time series of atmospheric and ocean surface reanalysis datasets; (3) quantify consequence of this spatial dynamism on coastal carbon storage. Results showed that approximatively 15 000 ha of mangroves fluctuate on a multi-decadal timescale in opposition to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phases, the main mode of atmospheric multi-decadal variability in the North Atlantic. This relation is operated by ocean waves whose energy is modulated by NAO phases. The study suggests that, on the one hand, decrease of mangrove surface areas is due to periods of high wave energy (NAO+) which favour coastal erosion and mangrove retreat, sediment resuspension and transport. On the other hand, the study suggests that periods of low wave energy (NAO-) favour sediment deposition on the coast and is at the origin of mangrove surface area expansion. Results also showed that alternation between phases of retreat and expansion generates the demographic structure of mangrove ages, which determines the mangrove carbon storage capacity. The study finally suggests that through time mangrove can switch from a source to a sink of carbon, and vice and versa, for the ocean and the atmosphere. La mangrove de Guyane est caractérisée par un dynamisme spatial exceptionnel. Ce caractère découle de processus hydro-sédimentaires côtiers très intenses. Les objectifs de la thèse ont été de : (1) quantifier la dynamique spatiale de l’écosystème mangrove à l’échelle régionale et multi-décennale par l’analyse de données d’archives issues de la télédétection (2) tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle le climat océanique serait à l’origine de cette dynamique en ...