Mangrove forests protect coastlines. ‘Synthetic mangroves’ could do the same for cities.
To better understand exactly how mangroves can grow in the ocean yet pump freshwater up to their leaves, engineers constructed what they’re dubbing “synthetic mangroves.” The idea for using their wannabe trees: incorporating them into the design of cities to make buildings more resilient in the face of storm surges.
Building sunken breakwaters off SC coast to halt beach erosion has unclear future
The idea — building an underwater barrier to slow down waves, and thus slow the flow of escaping sand — has coastal experts worried about disrupting the coastal flow of sand, nesting sea turtles and worsening water quality on the beach.