Salt marshes are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, as they can become submerged faster than they can naturally adapt.

Salt marshes, located in low-lying coastal areas, are especially sensitive to rising sea levels because they depend on a delicate balance of tidal flooding and sediment accumulation. When sea levels rise too quickly, salt marshes may not be able to accumulate sediment fast enough, leading to submersion and loss of habitat. While coral reefs, sandy beaches, and estuaries are also affected by sea-level rise, salt marshes are particularly at risk due to their specific location in intertidal zones and their role in buffering coasts from erosion and storms.