Impacts of Climate Change on the European Marine and Coastal Environment Ecosystems Approach
AIMED AT: Policy makers, future researchers PURPOSE: The report summarises the current state of knowledge with regard to general and regional-specific impacts of climate change on European marine and coastal environments, including climate variability GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: European marine and coastal environment, including the Arctic, Northeast Atlantic, Barents Sea, Nordic seas, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Celtic-Biscay Shelf, Iberian upwelling margin, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea TECHNICAL AREA: climate change impact on European marine and coastal environment BASIC STRUCTURE: It is estimated that annual air temperatures will rise throughout Europe relative to recent conditions, with the lowest increase (1°C to 2°C) in the Mediterranean, Iberian, North Sea, Northeast Atlantic and south Nordic Sea regions (IPCC 2001). Temperature increases will be higher (4°C to 6°C) in the more northern regions such as the northern Nordic Seas and the Barents Sea, and highest (up to 7°C) in the Arctic. Precipitation and runoff will increase in northern Europe and the Arctic, but will decrease in warmer regions such as the Mediterranean. As temperatures rise, sea-ice coverage will decrease; most climate models suggest an ice free summer in the Arctic by 2100. The report identified specific recommendations on future monitoring and indicators and with regards to future research needs.
Impacts of Climate Change on the European Marine and Coastal Environment Ecosystems Approach.pdf
