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Climate Change in Nova Scotia: Are We Ready?
An Oceanographer’s Perspective
12th Annual Elisabeth Mann Borgese Ocean Lecture
Blair Greenan
Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
8 June 2016
Outline
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Regional Overview
Ocean Climate Change
An Adaptation Tool
Ready for What?
8 June 2016
DFO Maritimes Region
8 June 2016
Small Craft Harbours
• 179 Harbours in the
Maritimes Region
• Average annual
investments of $21.8
million since 2009
• Most regional SCH facilities
support integrated
operations of traditional
commercial fish harvesters,
First Nations fisheries
participants and
aquaculture.
Southern
New Brunswick
33 Sites
Eastern
Nova Scotia
47 Sites
South West
Nova Scotia
99 Sites
Climate Change and Variability in the
Northwest Atlantic Ocean
• Strong evidence of change in some variables
– Atmospheric and ocean warming
– Sea level rise
– Decreasing sea ice
– Increasing ocean acidity
– Earlier spring run-off
– Reduced oxygen in some areas
• Not conclusive evidence of changes in storminess
Climate Change Risks
8 June 2016
Global Mean Sea Level
8 June 2016
Relative Sea Level Trends – Regional Variability
For Atlantic Canada, vertical
land motion is largely due to
glacial isostatic adjustment
(GIA)
8 June 2016
Future Projections – Global Mean Sea Level Rise
IPCC AR5
8 June 2016
Increase in Flooding Frequency for Global Mean Sea
Level Increase of 0.5m
IPCC AR5
8 June 2016
Adaptation Options
Or Retreat
Adapted from Daigle, 2012
8 June 2016
2-3 Feb 2016
RPIC 2016 Marine Infrastructure
National Workshop
Ready for What?
 Impacts – effects on natural and human
systems
 Vulnerabilities – the predisposition to being
adversely affected
 Opportunities – adaptation factors that provide
ancillary co-benefits
8 June 2016