Transcript Climate Change and Conservation

Climate Change and
Conservation
Atmospheric Inputs
All Atmospheric Inputs
Sea Surface Temperature
Levitus et al. 2000
Sea Surface
Temperature
Levitus et al. 2000
Sea Level Rise
Consequences
• Sea levels will increase
– Low lying areas will be flooded
– Coral reefs may drown if sea level rise is faster
than coral growth rates
– Barrier islands may be changed
• Loss of pack ice habitats in Antarctic and Arctic
– Declines of pinnipeds/penguins dependent on
edge of pack ice
• Ocean circulation patterns will change
– Upwelling may be reduced
– Coastal areas may have increased primary
productivity
– Increased CO2 may also increase plant
production
UV Radiation
Rozema et al. 2002
UV Radiation
Rozema et al. 2002
UV Radiation
Cummings et al. 2002
Global Climate Change
Increased Ultraviolet Radiation
• Increases in ultraviolet radiation are
thought to have large impacts on the
photosynthetic functioning of algae
• Studies such as Neale et al. (1998) have
investigated UVB on microalgae have
been investigated in Antarctic systems
• One study suggests a 6-12% drop in
primary productivity due to
photoinhibition of phytoplankton
• Reduction of primary productivity
decrease CO2 uptake
• UVB may also inhibit development or
increase mortality of eggs and larvae
Impacts in the Antarctic
Weimerskirch et al.
2003
Impacts in the Antarctic
Weimerskirch et al.
2003
Changing Ice Area
Changing Ice Area
Gaston et al. 2005
Changing Ice Area
Jenouvrier et al. 2005
Impacts in Temperate Areas
McGowan et al. 1998
El Nino and PDO
McGowan et al. 1998
El Nino and PDO
El Nino and PDO
Global Climate Change in the
Pacific Ocean
• McGowan et al. (1998) have analyzed
patterns of global climate change and
correlations within and among sites in the
Pacific Basin
• Large warming episodes in the California
Current System are linked to equatorial El
Ninos
• The coastal California El Ninos result in
lower nutricline, deep chlorophyl maximum
layer and lower secondary production of
zooplankton
Global Climate Change in the
Pacific Ocean
• They also note that there is a longer-term
interdecadal trend associated with an
intensification of the Aleutian low and
westerly winds
• This has resulted in increased SST and
physical stratification in the eastern North
Pacific
• This results in shallower depth of mixing,
less nutrients in the euphotic zone, and
decreased primary (phytoplankton) and
secondary production (zooplankton, sea
birds, fishes)
Global Climate Change in
the Pacific Ocean
• They find different patterns for the Gulf of
Alaska where interannual variation in SST
and zooplankton have not been related to
El Nino events
• However large interdecadal increases in
SST, zooplankton, and fish landings are
reported
• The intensification of the Gulf of Alaska
circulation (and weakening of California
Current) has accompanied a shallowing of
the mixed layer depth
Impacts in Tropical Areas
Impacts in Tropical Areas
Impacts in Tropical Areas
Impacts in Tropical Areas
Hoegh-Guldberg
1999
Impacts in Tropical Areas
Impacts in California
Impacts in California
Long-Term Trends
Changes in Calcification
• Increasing CO2 can lead to changes in the
oceans concentration of calcium carbonate
• Increased CO2 will increase the amount
dissolved in ocean water
• This will increase carbonic acid and lower
the ocean’s pH
• This will reduce the amount of aragonite in
the water possibly to below saturation
• This will make it more difficult for corals and
other organisms that use calcium carbonate
Changes in Calcification
Changes in Calcification
Changes in Calcification
Millenial Cycles
Bond et al.
2001
Decadal Cycles
Fligge and Solanki
2001
Decadal Cycles
Larsen 2005
Decadal Cycles
Larsen 2005