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Overview

Flooded Bridge

Why is this issue important?

Coastal estuarine and marine ecosystems are inherently vulnerable to decline primarily as a result of the increase in human population dependent on the coast for living, working and transportation. Coastal ecosystems have been plagued by habitat loss, nutrient pollution, low oxygen events, harmful algal blooms and invasive species. Global climate change has the potential to exacerbate all of these existing stressors plus add some additional, unprecedented variability. Climate induced environmental changes on estuarine and marine ecosystems include:

  • Temperature changes that alter ecological processes and species interactions;
  • Increase in frequency of extreme ocean warming events, with implications for coral reef bleaching;
  • Changes in precipitation that alter freshwater run-off of nutrients, sediment, and contaminants;
  • Accelerated rates of sea level rise;
  • Alteration of oceanic wind and water circulation patterns;
  • Continued losses of sea ice over large areas of the Arctic basin;
  • Ocean Acidification caused by reaction of increasing atmospheric CO2 with seawater

How are we addressing this issue?

Coastal decision makers need scientific information in order to appropriately manage coastal ecosystems impacted by climate change. CSCOR supports interdisciplinary, multi-year research programs investigating how oceanic and coastal ecosystems respond to climate variability and change. The goal is to develop a predictive understanding of coastal ecosystem responses to climate in order to inform and facilitate management of the impact of climate change. So far, CSCOR's climate change research has focused on sea level rise, fisheries, and protected resource impacts.