Researchers collected soil samples in a tidal marsh area that was affected by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. They were measuring the amount of organic matter added to the tidal marsh after 8 years. Tidal marshes are productive ecosystems and can help store carbon, mitigating climate change.

A soil sample taken by researchers from University of Rhode Island who were studying carbon storage in tidal marshes. In the upper inch, you can see plant roots from marsh plants. At about two inches, you can start to see a sandier soil – sand and sediments brought in from tides rising and falling. Starting at about 8 inches, you can see a denser organic layer full of decayed plant litter. Tidal marsh soils can store about 3-5 times the amount of carbon than forest soils.