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Reconstructing six decades of salinity structure in the Loxahatchee River using artificial neural networks
Citation:
Wan, Y. Reconstructing six decades of salinity structure in the Loxahatchee River using artificial neural networks. Great Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) 2019, Coral Springs, FL, April 22 - 25, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
This study developed an artificial neural network (ANN) modelling tool to elucidate the relationship between saltwater intrusion and mangrove encroachment into the freshwater floodplain of the Loxahatchee River over a period of six decades (1948–2011). The results established the ecohydrological controls over vegetation shift in the floodplain of the Loxahatchee River. The study is of interest to water resources managers currently engaging in the Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Program aiming to achieve incremental freshwater flow targets to protect and restore the floodplain ecosystem.
Description:
Understanding saltwater intrusion into freshwater coastal wetlands requires long-term historical salinity data, which are often not available in most tidal river systems. This study developed an artificial neural network (ANN) modelling tool to elucidate the relationship between saltwater intrusion and mangrove encroachment into the freshwater floodplain of the Loxahatchee River. Three ANN models simulated river salinity at three key locations on a daily time step over a period of six decades (1948–2011) using freshwater inflow, rainfall and tide as inputs. With 8 years of measured data for training and testing, the ANN model demonstrated comparable or superior model performance for salinity simulation to its hydrodynamic counterpart. Modeled historical salinity indicated that the intensity of saltwater intrusion clearly correlated with watershed hydrology, which, in turn, was linked to historical watershed alterations and regional rainfall variability. The results established the ecohydrological controls over vegetation shift in the floodplain of the Loxahatchee River, supporting the ongoing ecosystem restoration program with the aim to achieve incremental freshwater flow targets to protect and restore the floodplain ecosystem.