Climate impacts on marine sectors

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Preparing for a Changing Climate Implications for Coastal/Marine Sectors in the Northeast

PowerPoint Presentation: 

A joint project of Clean Air – Cool Planet, Cornell University Department of Horticulture, the Tellus Institute, and University of Vermont Cooperative Extension Service funded in part by a grant from The Hunt Foundation.

Climate …: 

Climate … is weather over the long-term Climate Change… is how weather changes over the long-term …it’s measured in decades

What is global warming?: 

What is global warming? Increases in global average temperature, translating into regional climate change Rising temperatures Changing precipitation Extreme weather events

Causes of global warming: 

Causes of global warming Emissions of major “Greenhouse” gases such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) Emissions of other greenhouse gases like hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride Greenhouse gas emissions are predominantly from human activities, although there is a slight role of natural sources Warming is primarily due to carbon dioxide emissions

Sources of carbon dioxide: 

Sources of carbon dioxide Electric generation Transportation Space and water heating Other industrial/manufacturing

Atmospheric CO2 over time: 

Vostok Record Law Dome Record Mauna Loa Record IPCC IS92a Scenario Atmospheric CO 2 over time

Temperature is rising worldwide: 

Temperature is rising worldwide Annual temperature trends 1976 - 1999

Northern Hemisphere Temperatures: 

Northern Hemisphere Temperatures

Surface Temperatures, 1000 to 2100: 

Surface Temperatures, 1000 to 2100

Change in surface temperatures: 

Change in surface temperatures Source: UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Temperature range, degrees C

Global warming leads to other environmental impacts: 

Global warming leads to other environmental impacts - Ice cap melting - Changes in growing season -Shifts in species

Annual precipitation trends 1900 - 2000: 

Annual precipitation trends 1900 - 2000

Percent of the USA with above Normal Proportion of Total Annual Precipitation From 1-day Extreme Events (>2”): 

Percent of the USA with above Normal Proportion of Total Annual Precipitation From 1-day Extreme Events (>2”)

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Changes in Sea Level: 2000 -2500

Changes in the Northeast over the past 100 years: 

Changes in the Northeast over the past 100 years Average winter temperature increase of 1.8 degrees F Rhode Island and New Hampshire have experienced 2-3 times the national average of warming Sea-levels have risen 10-25 cm.

Why it’s important for the New England region to act: 

Why it’s important for the New England region to act Climate change already affects many sectors, including coastal and marine CO 2 stays in the atmosphere 100 years We can limit the extent of climate change Prepare for positive and negative effects

Major environmental impacts: 

Major environmental impacts Changes in temperature, precipitation and sea level rise will also produce impacts in: Forestry Industry and energy Agriculture Human health

Potential Coastal/Marine Impacts from Global Warming: 

Potential Coastal/Marine Impacts from Global Warming Global Warming will have impacts on: - Coastal habitats and coastal development - Water quality Fisheries Aquaculture - Biodiversity

Potential positive effects : 

Potential positive effects As sea levels rise, estuaries will become larger and extend further upstream - Flooding of land around estuaries may replenish nutrients taken from soil by agriculture - Aquaculture may benefit from the shallow environment provided at the edges of the estuary

Potential negative effects : 

Potential negative effects - Higher sea levels - Erosion of coastal areas - Damage to estuaries - Decline in water quality - Decreasing yield for fisheries - Decrease in marine biodiversity/ migration of species - Increase in extreme weather events

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Sea Level Global Warming melts ice caps and expands water, resulting in a rising sea level. Sea levels are already rising off New England coasts…

SRES Sea-Level Rise: 

SRES Sea-Level Rise

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Sea Level Rising sea levels : Erode beaches Intensify flooding Increase salinity of bays, rivers, and groundwater tables Inundate low-lying lands such as wetlands

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Erosion Coastal erosion is caused by: Storms Precipitation Sea level rise

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Coastal erosion results in: Property damage Beach erosion Higher insurance costs Negative impacts on tourism

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Erosion: property damage

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Estuaries Estuaries are extremely important to New England coastal zones.

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Estuaries are breeding grounds for approximately 50% of ocean fish, including : Shrimp Menhaden Sea trout Croker Red drum Flounder

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development: 

Negative Impacts on Coastal Habitats and Development Estuaries - Warming temperatures and changing salinity of estuaries make them inhospitable to current inhabitants with narrow temperature tolerances. - Other estuarine species, like oysters, are put at risk by increased salinity from rising seas and drought .

Negative Impacts on Water Quality: 

Negative Impacts on Water Quality Water quality is declining due to: Warmer seas Industrialization Pollution/Poor waste management Erosion Increased precipitation

Negative Impacts on Water Quality: 

Negative Impacts on Water Quality Warmer seas allow for a faster spread of pathogens and an increase in harmful algal blooms Poorly treated waste and run-offs pollute rivers and estuaries Erosion releases toxins into coastal areas Increased precipitation results in nutrient overloading and eutrophication.

Negative Impacts on Fisheries: 

Negative Impacts on Fisheries Temperature rises may result in negative impacts on fisheries…

Negative Impacts on Fisheries: 

Negative Impacts on Fisheries Changes in sea temperature may cause fish with narrow temperature toleration to migrate out of the region. Warming may prevent the return of vulnerable species, such as cod. Declining water quality may increase the number of fish die-offs. Warming oceans may increase acidity of oceans which will have adverse affects on shelled species and shellfish fisheries

Negative Impacts on Biodiversity: 

Negative Impacts on Biodiversity Climate change is putting marine biodiversity at risk . A decline in water quality, increase in erosion, and rise in temperature may cause many marine species to die out of the New England region.

Negative Impacts on Biodiversity: 

Negative Impacts on Biodiversity Fish are not the only species at risk….. Shorebirds and seabirds are at risk as feeding areas disappear Sea turtle species become more vulnerable as they are exposed to increases in pollution, disease, and loss of nesting beaches The Northern Right Whale is threatened by extinction because of its inability to adapt to sudden environmental shifts

Impacts on Industries: 

Impacts on Industries Fisheries will be effected by the loss of marine species Tourism, which accounts for over $6 billion in New England economy annually, will be affected by coastal erosion, loss of beaches, damage to shoreline properties, etc.. Whale watching industry may be threatened by the possible loss of the Northern Right Whale Aquaculture may suffer from an increase in algal blooms and disease

What can we do?: 

What can we do? Slow global warming by reducing greenhouse gases 2) Decrease pollution entering rivers and estuaries 3) Build our capacity to cope and adapt

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Reduce fossil fuel use Improve waste management Capture more carbon in plant biomass Reducing greenhouse gases: General Options

Adapting to climate change: 

Adapting to climate change By changing methods, techniques, varieties, we can “learn to live with” our new climate Who adapts? Autonomous adaptation (private action) Planned adaptation (public action) How do they adapt? Reactive adaptation Anticipatory adaptation

Four General Adaptation Strategies: 

Four General Adaptation Strategies Bear the losses Baseline response of “doing nothing.”

Four General Adaptation Strategies: 

Four General Adaptation Strategies 2. Share the losses Many different systems from community based mechanism to taxation and federally funded relief and rehabilitation .

Four General Adaptation Strategies: 

Four General Adaptation Strategies 3. Modify the threat by minimizing other stresses to ecosystems

Four General Adaptation Strategies: 

Four General Adaptation Strategies 4. Continue to learn more about how to prepare for future changes in the environment……

Adapting to climate change: Options for NE marine: 

Adapting to climate change: Options for NE marine Bear losses? Share losses? Modify the threat? Learn more to help prevent or reduce current and future impacts?

Conclusions: 

Conclusions Mounting scientific evidence that global warming is already occurring Temperature changes evident in New England New England’s marine sector is particularly vulnerable to climate change Variety of marine strategies exist for adapting to climate change

Where can you learn more?: 

Where can you learn more? About global warming … www.cleanair-coolplanet.org About adaptation and mitigation… www.cornell.edu/horticulture www.tellus.org About renewable energy… www.doe.gov/nrel

Preparing for a Changing Climate: 

Preparing for a Changing Climate A joint presentation of Clean Air – Cool Planet The Tellus Institute Cornell University Department of Horticulture University of Vermont Extension Partial funding for this presentation made possible by a grant from The Hunt Foundation