Changing ocean systems: A short synthesis
Stock, C.A.; Cheung, W.W.L.; Sarmiento, J.L.; Sunderland, E.M. (2019). Changing ocean systems: A short synthesis, in: Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M. et al. Predicting future oceans: Sustainability of ocean and human systems amidst global environmental change. pp. 19-34. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-817945-1.00002-2 In: Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M.; Cheung, W.W.L.; Ota, Y. (Ed.) (2019). Predicting future oceans: Sustainability of ocean and human systems amidst global environmental change. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISBN 978-0-12-817945-1. xxvii, 554 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/c2018-0-02416-0, more |
| Authors | | Top | - Stock, C.A.
- Cheung, W.W.L.
- Sarmiento, J.L.
- Sunderland, E.M.
| | |
| Abstract | Variations in weather and climate create and interact with ocean fluctuations occurring over days to decades. In some cases these fluctuations are local. In others they stretch across ocean basins. Marine organisms respond to environmental changes in diverse and sometimes dramatic ways. Over the past century natural ocean fluctuations have been augmented by a variety of anthropogenic drivers. The ocean has absorbed vast amounts of carbon dioxide, excess heat arising from the accumulation of greenhouse gases, nutrients from fertilizers, and other pollutants. While this has moderated climate change and pollution impacts on terrestrial systems, it has had diverse consequences for the ocean. This chapter provides a brief overview of ocean changes of particular relevance for marine life, including ocean acidification, warming, melting ice, shifting ocean productivity baselines, deoxygenation, coastal development, and pollution. We highlight contributions from the Nereus Program, and attempt to provide a broad context for the more detailed discussion of select topics in other chapters in this section. Anthropogenic ocean changes pose a considerable challenge to sustaining marine resources. Continued advances in understanding and predicting ocean changes, such as those described herein, are essential for meeting this challenge. |
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