Oceans and marine resources in a changing climate
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Original Version
1-1-2013
Abstract
The United States is an ocean nation-our past, present, and future are inextricably connected to and dependent on oceans and marine resources. Marine ecosystems provide many important services, including jobs, food, transportation routes, recreational opportunities, health benets, climate regulation, and cultural heritage that affect people, communities, and economies across the United States and internationally every day. There is a wealth of information documenting the strong linkages between the planet’s climate and ocean systems, as well as how changes in the climate system can produce changes in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of ocean ecosystems on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. There is relatively little information on how these climate-driven changes in ocean ecosystems may have an impact on ocean services and uses, although it is predicted that ocean-dependent users, communities, and economies will likely become increasingly vulnerable in a changing climate. Based on our current understanding and future projections of the planet’s ocean systems, it is likely that marine ecosystems will continue to be affected by anthropogenic-driven climate change into the future. This review describes how these impacts are set in motion through a suite of changes in ocean physical, chemical, and biological components and processes in US waters and the signicant implications of these changes for ocean users and the communities and economies that depend on healthy oceans. US inter national partnerships, management challenges, opportunities, and knowledge gaps are also discussed. Effectively preparing for and responding to climate-driven changes in the ocean will require both limiting future change through reductions of greenhouse gases and adapting to the changes that we can no longer avoid.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 51
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Howard, Jennifer, Eleanora Babij, Roger Griffis, Brian Helmuth, Amber Himes-Cornell, Paul Niemier, Michael Orbach, Laura Petes, Stewart Allen, Guillermo Auad, Carol Auer, Russell Beard, Mary Boatman, Nicholas Bond, Timothy Boyer, David Brown, Patricia Clay, Katherine Crane, Scott Cross, Michael Dalton, Jordan Diamond, Robert Diaz, Quay Dortch, Emmett Duffy, Deborah Fauquier, William Fisher, Michael Graham, Benjamin Halpern, Lara Hansen, Bryan Hayum, and Samuel Herrick. "Oceans and marine resources in a changing climate." Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, Volume 51 (2013). doi: 10.1201/b15406.