Methodology for the GEF Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme. Volume 6. Methodology for the Assessment of the Open Ocean
AIMED AT: Policy Makers, Experts working on the TWAP project, Marine scientists, Marine spatial planners PURPOSE: Guide for the assessment of the Open Ocean within the TWAP project with the aim of advising GEF for its future investments GEOGRAPHICAL AREA: Global TECHNICAL AREA: Indicators, data and information management, ecosystem assessment methodology BASIC STRUCTURE: A sister volume to Reference 60. For the purposes of TWAP, the open ocean is defined as the ocean areas beyond the defined LME areas. The proposed TWAP open ocean assessment will address these challenges through a globally-scoped assessment that directly addresses four broad themes: climate, ocean ecosystems, fisheries, and pollution. Rather than carving the open ocean into assessment units based on natural system criteria (which can vary depending on the scientific discipline consulted, and whether the surface, mid, or deep ocean is being considered), the assessment will take the cue from the human system side and the global governance arrangements already in place and focus on a global thematic assessment. Special section is related to climate change and variability. The assessment issues covered in this section are linked to human emissions of greenhouse gases, which create a natural system stress by changing the physical and chemical environment of the open oceans. The physical changes having direct consequence for human population are sea-level rise, increased ocean heat content, changes in global patterns of rainfall and drought, impacts on corals, primary productivity and distribution and transport of oxygen. Chemical change discussed is ocean acidification. The report describes a number of indicators related to climate change.
Methodology for the GEF Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme. Volume 6. Methodology for the Assessment of the Open Ocean.pdf
