CLAMER / Marine Board Special Report - Synthesis of European Research on the Effects of Climate Change on Marine Environments CLAMER PROJECT PARTNERS Marine Board Special Report Climate Change and Marine Ecosystem Research Synthesis of European Research on the Effects of Climate Change on Marine Environments September 2011 Wandelaarkaai 7 I 8400 Ostend I Belgium 500Print – September run: 1 2011 Tel: +32.59.34.01.63 I Fax: +32.59.34.01.65 Email: [email protected] www.esf.org/marineboard www.clamer.eu Clamer_Kaft_ClimateChange.indd 1-3 5/09/11 11:55 The development of this CLAMER & Marine Board Special Report was coordinated by the Marine Board-ESF for the CLAMER Project (www.clamer.eu) and funded by the European Union Framework Programme 7. CLAMER DELIVERABLE NUMBER: 1.2 DELIVERABLE NAME: Climate Change and Marine Ecosystem Research - Synthesis of European Research on the Effects of Climate Change on Marine Environments DELIVERABLE LEADER: Marine Board-ESF CONTRIBUTING BENEFICIARIES: Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ); University of Brest (UBO-IUEM); Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI); Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM); Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR); National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG); Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (NIOO-KNAW); Natural Environment Research Council (NOCS-NERC); University of East Anglia (UEA); University of Tromsø (UoT) DATE: September 2011 DISSEMINATION LEVEL: Public SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME ENV.2009.1.1.6.3 FP7-2009-1-244132 Climate Change Impacts on the Marine Environment: Research Results And Public Perception Cover photograph credits: Left from top to bottom: Mean Sea Surface Temperature in August 1987-1994 (© METEO FRANCE); Ocean acidification hampers the early development of sea urchins (© Karen Rappé); Proba-2 serves as a scientific platform for solar and space weather observations (© ESA/Pierre Carril); Maeslantkering storm surge barrier in the Netherlands (© Rijkswaterstaat); Polar research (© Katja Guilini) This Marine Board Special Report presents a collection of contributions from European experts involving, through the CLAMER project, coordinators of major European marine ecosystem research activities of the last decade. The views set out in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the formal opinion of the Marine Board-ESF or its Member Organisations. Climate Change and Marine Ecosystem Research Synthesis of European Research on the Effects of Climate Change on Marine Environments Marine Board Special Report Coordinating Author Carlo Heip CLAMER Scientific Expert Panel (SEP) Contributors Carlo Heip (Chair), Manuel Barange, Roberto Danovaro, Marion Gehlen, Anthony Grehan, Filip Meysman, Temel Oguz, Vangelis Papathanassiou, Catharina Philippart, Jun She, Paul Tréguer, Rachel Warren, Paul Wassmann, Phil Weaver, Rita Yu Other Contributors Justus van Beusekom, Philip Boyd, Andrew Cooper, Hein de Baar, Henk de Haas, Felix Janssen, Wolfgang Ludwig, Leif Toudal Pedersen, Michael Tsimplis, Hans Von Storch Editorial Team Jan-Bart Calewaert, Carlo Heip, Niall McDonough, Catharina Philippart Contents List of Boxes 7 Executive Summary 9 1 Introduction 16 2 What are the Main Observed and Expected Impacts of Climate Change on the Marine Environment? 17 2.1 Sea-level Changes 17 2.1.1 Observations 17 2.1.2 Future Projections 18 2.1.3 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Sea-level Changes? 18 2.1.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Sea-level Rise 20 2.1.5 Research Gaps, Priorities and Key Recommendations 20 2.1.6 Conclusion 20 2.1.7 References 20 2.2 Coastal Erosion 21 2.2.1 Observations 21 2.2.2 Past Trends and Future Projections 22 2.2.3 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Coastal Erosion? 23 2.2.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Coastal Erosion 24 2.2.5 Research Gaps, Priorities and Key Recommendations 24 2.2.6 Conclusion 24 2.2.7 References 25 2.3 Temperature Changes 26 2.3.1 Observations 26 2.3.2 Future Projections 27 2.3.3 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Temperature Change? 27 2.3.4 Research Gaps, Priorities and Key Recommendations 28 2.3.5 Conclusions 29 2.3.6 References 29 2.4 Ice Melting 30 2.4.1 Sea-ice Extent 30 2.4.2 Sea-ice Thickness 30 2.4.3 Sea-ice Drift and Deformation 30 2.4.4 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Ice Melting? 31 2.4.5 Socio Economic Consequences of Sea-ice Melting 32 2.4.6 Research Gaps, Priorities and Concluding Remarks 32 2.4.7 References 33 2.5 Storm Frequency and Intensity 33 2.5.1 Introduction 33 2.5.2 Observations 34 2.5.3 Future Projections 34 2.5.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Increased Storm Frequency and Intensity 35 2.5.5 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Increasing Storm Frequency and Intensity? 35 2.5.6 Conclusions and Remaining Questions 36 2.5.7 References 36 Contents 2.6 Stratification Changes 37 2.6.1 The Role of Stratification 37 2.6.2 Future Projections 38 2.6.3 Better Understanding How Climate Change will Alter Stratification 38 2.6.4 Broader Ramifications of Increased Stratification 38 2.6.5 Research Gaps and Priorities 39 2.6.6 References 39 2.7 Thermohaline Circulation Changes 40 2.7.1 Observations 40 2.7.2 Future Projections 40 2.7.3 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Thermohaline Circulation Changes? 40 2.7.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Thermohaline Circulation Changes 42 2.7.5 Research Gaps and Priorities 42 2.7.6 Conclusion 42 2.7.7 References 42 2.8 Riverine Discharge and Nutrient Loads 43 2.8.1 Observations 43 2.8.2 What Has Been Done to Tackle and Better Understand Riverine Nutrient Loads? 43 2.8.3 Future Projections 44 2.8.4 Conclusions 45 2.8.5 Socio-Economic Consequences of Changes in Riverine Discharge and Nutrient Loads 46 2.8.6 Research Gaps and Priorities 46 2.8.7 References 46 2.9 Ocean Acidification 47 2.9.1 Introduction 47 2.9.2 Socio-Economic Impacts of Ocean Acidification 48 2.9.3 Ocean Acidification is Detectable 48 2.9.4 Impacts on Marine Organisms and Ecosystems 48 2.9.5 Can We Learn from the Past? 49 2.9.6 Research Gaps and Priorities 49 2.9.7 References 51 2.10 Ocean Deoxygenation and Coastal Hypoxia 52 2.10.1 Introduction 52 2.10.2 Observations and Future Projections 53 2.10.3 Impact on Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Functioning 54 2.10.4 Ongoing Research in Europe 54 2.10.5 Research Gaps and Priorities 55 2.10.6 References 56 2.11 Marine Eutrophication 57 2.11.1 Observations 57 2.11.2 Stoichiometry 58 2.11.3 Impacts on Food Webs 58 2.11.4 Research Gaps and Priorities 59 2.11.5 References 60 2.12 Sediment Changes 62 2.12.1 Introduction 62 2.12.2 Observations 62 2.12.3 Future Projections 64 2.12.4 Socio-Economic Consequences of Climate Change Impacts on Sedimentation 64 2.12.5 What Has Been Done to Better Understand Impacts of Climate Change on Sediment Changes? 64 2.12.6 Research Gaps, Priorities and Key Recommendations 64 2.12.7 Reference 64 2.13 Biological Impacts 65 2.13.1 Introduction 65 2.13.2 Effects of Climate Change on Plankton of European Seas 66 2.13.3 Effects of Climate Change on the Benthos of European Seas 68 2.13.4 Effects of Climate Change on the Higher Trophic Levels of European Seas 73 2.13.5 References 77 3 How Does Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Affect the Marine Environment in Different Regions in Europe? 80 3.1 Impacts of Climate Change on the Baltic Sea 80 3.1.1 Observations 80 3.1.2 Future Projections 82 3.1.3 What Has Been Done to Better Understand the Climate Change Impact in the Baltic Sea? 83 3.1.4 Research Gaps and Priorities 84 3.1.5 References 85 3.2 Impacts of Climate Change on the North Sea 86 3.2.1 Weather and Climate 86 3.2.2 Hydrodynamics 86 3.2.3 Biotic Changes 87 3.2.4 Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the North Sea 88 3.2.5 Research Gaps and Priorities 89 3.2.6 References 89 3.3 Impacts of Climate Change on the Arctic Ocean 90 3.3.1 Introduction 90 3.3.2 Observations 91 3.3.3 Link Between Observed Changes and Climate 93 3.3.4 Future Projections 94 3.3.5 Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the Arctic Ocean 95 3.3.6 What Has Been Done to Better Understand the Climate Change Impact in the Arctic Ocean? 96 3.3.7 Research Gaps and Priorities 96 3.3.8 References 98 3.4 Impacts of Climate Change on the North-East Atlantic 99 3.4.1 Introduction 99 3.4.2 Observations 101 3.4.3 Future Projections 103 3.4.4 Research Gaps and Priorities 105 Contents 3.4.5 References 106 3.5 Impacts of Climate Change on the Mediterranean Sea 108 3.5.1 Introduction 108 3.5.2 Western Mediterranean 109 3.5.3 Eastern Mediterranean 110 3.5.4 Plankton and Microbe Abundance: Their Role in Climate Change 111 3.5.5 Climate Change and Non-Native Species 112 3.5.6 Carbon and Organic Matter Dynamics 114 3.5.7 Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate Change in the Mediterranean 114 3.5.8 Research Gaps, Uncertainties and Relevance to EU Funding 115 3.5.9 References 116 3.6 Impacts of Climate Change on the Black Sea 120 3.6.1 Introduction 120 3.6.2 Abiotic Changes 120 3.6.3 Biogeochemical Impacts and Effects on Biodiversity 122 3.6.4 Link between Observed Changes and Climate 124 3.6.5 Future Climate Change Projections 125 3.6.6 Socio-Economic Consequences of Climate Change in the Black Sea 125 3.6.7 Research Gaps, Uncertainties and Relevance to EU Funding 126 3.6.8 References 126 4 Social and Economic Aspects of Climate Change Impacts on the Marine Environment 129 4.1 Introduction 129 4.2 Economic Effects of Climate Change Impacts upon the European Marine Environment 131 4.2.1 Economic Impacts of Sea-level Rise and Coastal Flooding 131 4.2.2 Economic