Climate Change
Climate change and climate variability can influence sea level, water temperature and currents, and stratification (layering) of water bodies. These conditions influence freshwater delivery, sedimentation, and pollution of an ecosystem. Salinity, tidal patterns, erosion, and coastal flooding also are affected, rendering coastal ecosystems and communities more vulnerable to adverse conditions. With its Climate Change program, CSCOR has led the way in NOAA’s effort to understand how climate change will impact our coastal ecosystems. More