Synopsis of the scientific knowledge on the factors that contribute to vertical losses in brackish and saline marshes of the Mid-Atlantic. Vertical losses, or those driven by platform elevation declines, can be largely attributed to functional impairment. Horizontal loss, also a large contributor to wetland acreage decline, is governed by factors such as edge erosion. This orientation seeks to aid coastal managers and practitioners in understanding the complex array of factors that affect platform (vertical) vulnerabilities of the coastal wetlands in our region.