Climate Change Impacts on U.S. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Scavia D, Field JC, Boesch DF, Buddemeier RW, Burkett V, Cayan D, Fogerty M, Harwell MA, Howarth RW, Mason C, Reed DJ, Royer TC, Sallenger AH, Titus JG. 2002. Climate Change Impacts on U.S. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. Estuaries. 25(2):149-164
Increasing greenhouse gases projected for the 21st century are expected to lead to increased mean global air and ocean temperatures, with significant fluctuations at regional scales. The National Assessment of Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change (NAST 2001) was based on a series of regional and sector assessments. This paper is a summary of the coastal and marine resources sector review of potential impacts on shorelines, estuaries, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and ocean margin ecosystems. This analysis considers the impacts of several key climate change drivers: sea level change; alterations in precipitation patterns and subsequent delivery of freshwater, nutrients, and sediment; increased ocean temperature; alterations in circulation patterns; changes in frequency and intensity of coastal storms; and increased levels of atmospheric CO2. While the potential impacts of climate change and variability will vary from system to system, it is important to understand that these impacts will be superimposed upon other ecosystem stresses (pollution, harvesting, habitat destruction, invasive species, land and resource use, extreme natural events), which may lead to more significant consequences.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Scavia, Donald; Field, John; Boesch, Donald; Buddemeier, Robert; Burkett, Virginia; Cayan, Daniel; Fogerty, Michael; Harwell, Mark; Howarth, Robert; Mason, Curt; Reed, Denise; Royer, Thomas; Sallenger, Asbury; Titus, James
- Units
- ARD
- Keywords
- AIRBIB, Climate Change, Coastal, Ecosystems, Impacts, Marine, U.S.