Ocean Impacts and Projections

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1 CLIMATE CHANGE Ocean Impacts and Projections HANS PÖRTNER, CLA WGII CH. 6, OCEAN SYSTEMS, TS and SPM Alfred Wegener Institut, Bremerhaven, Germany

2 Oceans cover ~70% of the blue planet create half the oxygen (O 2 ) we use to breathe and burn fossil fuels. provide 20% of the animal protein consumed by more than 1.5 billion people. are home to diverse species and ecosystems valued in tourism offer rich biodiversity and resources for innovative drugs or biomechanics. sustain coral reefs and mangroves protecting coastlines from tsunamis and storms. sustain shipping of 90% of all goods the world uses.

3 Climate related isssues Oceans play a major role in climate regulation globally: absorb >90% of the heat accumulating in the atmosphere ocean warming, hypoxia absorb 25% of man made CO 2 ocean acidification Human activities also influence ocean conditions locally: overfishing, pollution, and nutrient runoff via rivers that causes eutrophication, generating large coastal areas of water with low oxygen levels ( dead zones ) harmful algal blooms redistribution of pathogens (cholera). with temperature presently being the predominant driver of ongoing global changes

4 OBSERVATIONS World wide marine species displacements due to climate change Ocean warming as the key driver 400 DISTRIBUTION CHANGE (Km per Decade) (359) Standard Error Mean Standard Error WGII, SPM.2

5 PROJECTIONS Ocean warming : displaced and reduced fish and invertebrate stocks CHANGE IN MAXIMUM CATCH POTENTIAL ( COMPARED TO , SRES A1B, 2 C warming) <50% % -6 20% -1 5% No data 0 4% 5 19% 20 49% % >100% WGII, 6 14, SPM.6

6 Ocean acidification Observations Projections Observations WGI 3 18

7 Projections: Ocean acidification, risks for mollusk and crustacean fisheries and coastal protection by coral reefs...risks enhanced by warming extremes WGII, SPM.6

8 Oceans are losing oxygen Different tolerances to low oxygen levels explain the shift to tolerant communities (unicells and small animals) below 60 µmol l 1...in cool midwater Oxygen Minimum Zones Dependence on body size in animals Observations Projections... causing compression and loss of habitat to fish species in animals strongest impacts are expected where warming, acidification and hypoxia come together WGI WGII WGI, 6 30, WGII, 6 11 D. Storch et al., 2014

9 Vulnerable ecosystems Warm water coral reefs Great Barrier Reef WGII Box CC CR Observations: Loss of live coral cover due to various drivers Verons 2009

10 Mitigation...needed to minimize the marginalization of coral reefs. Projections Frieler et al., 2013: To protect at least 50% of the coral reef cells, global mean temperature change would have to be limited to 1.2 C ( C), especially given the lack of evidence that corals can evolve significantly on decadal timescales and under continually escalating thermal stress. (...not yet taking ocean acidification effects into account) WGII CC Box coral reefs

11 Vulnerable ecosystems Arctic sea ice ecosystem

12 Northern Hemisphere September sea ice extent: Marginalization with continued warming Projections Observations (reproduced) RCP 2.6 RCP 8.5 WGI SPM.7b, 8c

13 Risks involving the oceans, risk reduction by adaptation very limited for some systems POLAR REGIONS Risks for Ecosystems Risks for Health and Well-Being Unprecedented Challenges, Especially from Rate of Change Present Near Term ( Long Term 2 C ( C Very Low Risk-Level Med Very High Risk Level with High Adaptation Potential for Additional Adaptation to Reduce Risk Risk Level with Current Adaptation Increased Flood Losses and Impacts EUROPE Increased Flood Losses and Impacts ASIA THE OCEAN THE OCEAN Reduced Fisheries Catch Potential at Low Latitudes Increased Flood Damage to Infrastructure, Livelihoods, and Settlements Reduced Fisheries Catch Potential at Low Latitudes r Increased Mass Coral Bleaching and Mortality Coastal Inundation and Habitat Loss Increased Mass Coral Bleaching and Mortality Coastal Inundation and Habitat Loss SMALL ISLANDS Loss of Livelihoods, Settlements, Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, and Economic Stability Significant Change in Composition and Structure of Coral Reef Systems Increased Flood Damage to Infrastructure and Settlements AUSTRALASIA Increased Risks to Coastal Infrastructure and Low-Lying Ecosystems Risks for Low-Lying Coastal Areas WGII

14 Thank you!