Large Marine Ecosystems
Pressures on ecosystem originating in the sea and associated impacts:
- sea level rise (loss of habitats);
- impacts on fisheries (overall decline in productivity, eutrophication and coral mortality leading to reduced fish catch, loss or shifts in critical fish habitat);
- acidification (damage to coral reefs):
- increased salinity;
- increased temperature (temperature shifts causing migration of fishes, temperature changes);
- increased frequency of extreme weather events (increase in category 4 and 5 cyclone activity)
| Rapid Warming of LMEs |
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The U.K. Meteorological Office Hadley Centre SST climatology was used to compute 50-year time series (1957–2006) of sea surface temperature (SST) and examine SST trends in the World Oceans’ 63 LMEs. Reflecting a global trend, warming in most LMEs accelerated in late 1970s–early 1980s. Of the 63 LMEs, 61 warmed and only two cooled in 1982–2006. Linear SST trends for each LME show a distinct global pattern of rapid warming in three regions: around the Subarctic Gyre; in the European Seas; and in the East Asian Seas. Decadal rates of SST warming in these three regions are 2–4 times the global mean rate. These estimates are rather conservative as numerous independent studies based on various data sets reveal even higher rates in the 1990s–2000s, up to 10–12 times the global mean rate. The Subarctic Gyre warming is likely caused by natural variability related to the North Atlantic Oscillation. The proximity of the European and East Asian Seas to major industrial/population agglomerations suggests a possible direct anthropogenic effect. Freshwater runoff in the European and East Asian Seas likely plays a special role in modulating and exacerbating global warming effects on the regional scale. Rapid warming of Large Marine Ecosystems, Progress in Oceanography, 81, 2009 (Ref. Doc. 7) |
| Marine organisms |
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Given the geographic variation in change in temperature, acidity and other factors, and the varying sensitivity of marine organisms and ecosystems, it is unlikely that any single strategy will alleviate impacts of climate change everywhere. A series of regionally tailored response plans under local governance are required. However, on a global scale, an immediate reduction in CO2 emissions is essential to minimize future human-induced climate change. Improving models are increasing our ability to predict physical changes in the ocean that will impact marine and terrestrial biology, but we need to progress beyond prediction and monitoring of decline and act to halt degradation. Despite options for intervention, it may already be too late to avoid major irreversible changes to many marine ecosystems. As history has shown us, these changes in the ocean could have major consequences for the planet as a whole. Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Organisms and Ecosystems, Current Biology, 19, 2009, (Ref. Doc. 18) |
See Documents 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 42, 53, 54, and 60 for more information
