mangrove transformation rules

[andrespg]

First of all, thanks for sharing a great model and useful forum.

I would like to double check if I have understood correctly the way SLAMM deals with tropical systems  [SLAMM 6.2 beta-64bits]

Mangrove creation is clear from the manual (December 7, 2012): If mangroves cover more than 0.5% of land coverage SLAMM treat the system as Tropical Systems. In these systems any land inundated with saline water is assumed to convert to a mangrove forest.
Some aspects of mangrove inundation and erosion are also clear: Under conditions of inundation or erosion mangroves are converted to open water cells. Elevations are adjusted wit equations ( and (9) and a mangrove-specific accretion parameter is utilized (default is 7mm/yr). Inundation and erosion are calculated using a default MLLW as the lower elevation boundary.

My questions are:
1) What is the value of the default MLLW used by SLAMM as mangrove lower boundary?
2) Erosion is only predicted to occur at land-cover to open water interface. Does that means that the water cells at the sea front of the mangrove has to be define as open ocean (category 19)?, if tidal creek is chosen instead (category 18) is erosion predicted?
3) If erosion is triggered, the rate is defined by the Swamp Erosion?
4) Is it possible to use the regional accretion (as feedback with tidal level). For example, should I set to 0 Magrove Accr to make sure that regional accretion is used, or anytime a Mangrove is present, Magrove Accr will control the accretion?   

Thanks in advance for your support.

[Jonathan S. Clough]

Here's a start to answering your question:

The mangrove accretion rate is now editable and not "hard-wired" to 7 mm/year.

1.) the MLLW that is the mangrove lower boundary is "mean-lower-low water" for each subsite defined.  That is the mean tide level minus 1/2 of the "GT Great Diurnal Tide Range" in the site or subsite parameters.
2.) erosion will be triggered based on sufficient fetch over open ocean, estuarine water, or riverine tidal water (not tidal creek at this time)
3.) yes, at this time the swamp erosion parameter is used if erosion is triggered.
4.) anytime a mangrove is present, mangrove accretion will control the accretion.