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Arctic Report Card 2012
ssued annually since 2006, the Arctic Report Card (hereafter the Report Card) is a timely and peer-reviewed source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the current state of the Arctic relative to historical records. The Report Card is intended for a wide audience, including scientists, teachers, students, decision-makers and the general public interested in the Arctic environment and science.
Comprising 20 essays on different topics in the physical and biological sciences, the Report Card is organized into five sections: Atmosphere; Sea Ice & Ocean; Marin ...
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Available online: http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/reportcard
M.O. Jeffries ; J.A. Richter-Menge ; James E. Overland ; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States)
Published by: NOAA ; 2012ssued annually since 2006, the Arctic Report Card (hereafter the Report Card) is a timely and peer-reviewed source for clear, reliable and concise environmental information on the current state of the Arctic relative to historical records. The Report Card is intended for a wide audience, including scientists, teachers, students, decision-makers and the general public interested in the Arctic environment and science.
Comprising 20 essays on different topics in the physical and biological sciences, the Report Card is organized into five sections: Atmosphere; Sea Ice & Ocean; Marine Ecosystem; Terrestrial Ecosystem; and Terrestrial Cryosphere.Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate ; Global warming ; Melting Ice ; Cryosphere ; Sea ice ; Ecosystem ; Arctic
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Helping to Better Manage the World’s Oceans : the World Bank and the Drive for ‘Blue Growth’
World Bank, 2012A healthy ocean is a valuable natural asset that, if maintained and nurtured, can provide ‘ecosystem services’ that contribute to economic expansion – or ‘blue growth’ – in developing coastal and island countries. World Bank investments in the oceans between 2007 and 2011 have supported developing coastal and island countries in improving the health of their ocean environments, enhancing the value of the ecosystem services they provide to the local and global economy. In particular, these investments supported countries to manage the transition to more sustainable fisheries, establish coastal ...
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Available online: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTSDNET/Resources/Results2012-SDN-Oceans.pdf
Published by: World Bank ; 2012
A healthy ocean is a valuable natural asset that, if maintained and nurtured, can provide ‘ecosystem services’ that contribute to economic expansion – or ‘blue growth’ – in developing coastal and island countries. World Bank investments in the oceans between 2007 and 2011 have supported developing coastal and island countries in improving the health of their ocean environments, enhancing the value of the ecosystem services they provide to the local and global economy. In particular, these investments supported countries to manage the transition to more sustainable fisheries, establish coastal and marine protected areas, and implement integrated coastal and marine ecosystem management. In the years going forward, the Bank aims to significantly scale up investments in the development and implementation of new laws and institutions for the use of ocean ecosystem services in countries’ waters, through leadership in a Global Partnership for Oceans.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Oceans ; Environmental policies ; Ecosystem ; Guinea-Bissau ; Indonesia
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On the impacts of phytoplankton-derived organic matter on the properties of the primary marine aerosol – Part 2: Composition, hygroscopicity and cloud condensation activity
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP), Vol. 11. N° 3. Fuentes E.; Coe H.; Green D.; et al. - Copernicus GmbH, 2011The effect of nanogel colloidal and dissolved organic matter[article]On the impacts of phytoplankton-derived organic matter on the properties of the primary marine aerosol – Part 2: Composition, hygroscopicity and cloud condensation activity
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Available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-2585-2011
E. Fuentes ; H. Coe ; D. Green ; G. McFiggans
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP) > Vol. 11. N° 3 [03/01/2011] . - p.2585-2602The effect of nanogel colloidal and dissolved organic matter
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Aerosols ; Ecosystem ; Environment and landscape ; Ocean-atmosphere interaction ; Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) ; Oceans
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The role of interactions in a world implementing adaptation and mitigation solutions to climate change
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 369. N° 1934. Warren Rachel - The Royal Society, 2011The papers in this volume discuss projections of climate change impacts upon humans and ecosystems under a global mean temperature rise of 4°C above preindustrial levels. Like most studies, they are mainly single-sector or single-region-based assessments. Even the multi-sector or multi-region approaches generally consider impacts in sectors and regions independently, ignoring interactions. Extreme weather and adaptation processes are often poorly represented and losses of ecosystem services induced by climate change or human adaptation are generally omitted. This paper addresses this gap by re ...[article]The role of interactions in a world implementing adaptation and mitigation solutions to climate change
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in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences > Vol. 369. N° 1934 (2011) . - P. 217-241The papers in this volume discuss projections of climate change impacts upon humans and ecosystems under a global mean temperature rise of 4°C above preindustrial levels. Like most studies, they are mainly single-sector or single-region-based assessments. Even the multi-sector or multi-region approaches generally consider impacts in sectors and regions independently, ignoring interactions. Extreme weather and adaptation processes are often poorly represented and losses of ecosystem services induced by climate change or human adaptation are generally omitted. This paper addresses this gap by reviewing some potential interactions in a 4°C world, and also makes a comparison with a 2°C world. In a 4°C world, major shifts in agricultural land use and increased drought are projected, and an increased human population might increasingly be concentrated in areas remaining wet enough for economic prosperity. Ecosystem services that enable prosperity would be declining, with carbon cycle feedbacks and fire causing forest losses. There is an urgent need for integrated assessments considering the synergy of impacts and limits to adaptation in multiple sectors and regions in a 4°C world. By contrast, a 2°C world is projected to experience about one-half of the climate change impacts, with concomitantly smaller challenges for adaptation. Ecosystem services, including the carbon sink provided by the Earth’s forests, would be expected to be largely preserved, with much less potential for interaction processes to increase challenges to adaptation. However, demands for land and water for biofuel cropping could reduce the availability of these resources for agricultural and natural systems. Hence, a whole system approach to mitigation and adaptation, considering interactions, potential human and species migration, allocation of land and water resources and ecosystem services, will be important in either a 2°C or a 4°C world.
Language(s): English
Format: Digital (Free)Tags: Climate change - Mitigation ; Climate change ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; Environment and landscape ; Climate geoengineering ; Global warming ; Scenario
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Climate change's famous cousin
Global Change magazine, Issue 76. IGBP, 2011Ocean acidification has transitioned from a littleknown phenomenon to a buzzword within a span of five years. The concomitant explosion of research on this topic has provided many general insights into its effects. But as Sarah Cooley reminds us, many of the specifics regarding its consequences for
humans and ecosystems await elaboration.[article]
in Global Change magazine > Issue 76 (January 2011) . - 4 p.Ocean acidification has transitioned from a littleknown phenomenon to a buzzword within a span of five years. The concomitant explosion of research on this topic has provided many general insights into its effects. But as Sarah Cooley reminds us, many of the specifics regarding its consequences for
humans and ecosystems await elaboration.Language(s): English
Tags: Climate ; Climate change ; Oceans acidification ; Ecosystem
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Sustainable Development of the World’s Large Marine Ecosystems during Climate Change : A commemorative volume to advance sustainable development on the occasion of the presentation of the 2010 Göteborg Award
Conroy Hector; International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - UNDP, 2011This report features papers that cover a range of key issues, from the impacts of climate change on Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), to new policy and institutional tools for LME governance, to new policy and institutional tools for LME governance. The UNDP welcomes this volume on the sustainability of the world’s Large Marine Ecosystems as a key contribution to advancing the needed paradigm shift in LME management in a changing climate.Permalink![]()
Informing Decisions on Ecosystem-Based Approaches for the Adaptation of People in Asia and the Pacific Region
This brief discusses research into awareness and information needs related to Ecosystem-Based Approaches (EBA) to climate change adaptation in the Asia and Pacific region. EBA refers to approaches that recognize the potential of ecosystem services to reduce the impact of climate change on people. This study was undertaken to inform the design of a decision-support tool for development, adaptation and disaster risk reduction stakeholders. It examines climate change impacts and adaptation options in the region. Research found that key stakeholder groups are generally aware of ecosystem-based ada ...Permalink![]()
Wildlife in a Changing Climate
FAO, 2011The world already faces a biodiversity extinction crisis, and it is likely to be made worse by climate change. This paper examines the likely ecosystem and landscape changes that will occur in forests, mountains, wetlands, coastal areas, savannahs, grasslands and steppes. Impacts include changes in physical conditions, weather patterns and ecosystem functioning. As a consequence, terrestrial, freshwater and marine wildlife will be severely affected unless we manage to cope with climate changes through decisive planning and action. The main focus is on tropical terrestrial wildlife and its habi ...Permalink![]()
Mitigating Climate Change through Restoration and Management of Coastal Wetlands and Near-shore Marine Ecosystems : Challenges and Opportunities
The technical report, prepared by Stephen Crooks, Dorothee Herr, Jerker Tamelander, Dan Laffoley and Justin Vandever, consolidates information from the literature and provides analysis on the climate change mitigation potential of seagrasses and coastal wetlands, including coastal peats, tidal freshwater wetlands, salt marshes and mangroves (see Annex 2). The numbers in this full technical report have been adjusted since the synthesis note, produced while the study was in progress, was released in Cancun. The calculations of emissions are ballpark, but reasonable, and represent an order of mag ...Permalink![]()
Reefs at Risk Revisited | World Resources Institute
This report provides a detailed assessment of the status of and threats to the world’s coral reefs. It evaluates threats to coral reefs from a wide range of human activities, and includes an assessment of climate-related threats to reefs. It also contains a global assessment of the vulnerability of nations and territories to coral reef degradation.Permalink![]()
Sundarbans: future imperfect climate adaptation report
"The eco-region of Sundarbans is unique and fragile because it is one of the most extensive mangrove forests in the world. This report describes the Sundarbans region and the impacts of climate change using evidence from the people who live there, scientific data, and efforts to address the problems of the imminent threats and vulnerabilities to this fragile ecosystem."
Source: eldis.orgPermalink![]()
Air pollution — SOER 2010 thematic assessment
European Commission, 2010Emissions of air pollutants derive from almost all economic and societal activities. They result in clear risks to human health and ecosystems. In Europe, policies and actions at all levels have greatly reduced anthropogenic emissions and exposure but some air pollutants still harm human health. Similarly, as emissions of acidifying pollutants have reduced, the situation for Europe's rivers and lakes has improved but atmospheric nitrogen oversupply still threatens biodiversity in sensitive terrestrial and water ecosystems. The movement of atmospheric pollution between continents attracts incre ...Permalink![]()
Land use — SOER 2010 thematic assessment
European Commission, 2010Land use shapes our environment in positive and negative ways. Productive land is a critical resource for food and biomass production and land use strongly influences soil erosion and soil functions such as carbon storage. Land management largely determines the beauty of Europe's landscapes. It is important therefore to monitor land cover and land-use change through tools such as Corine land cover. Data on land-cover change in Europe from 2000–2006 show that growth in built-up areas and forest land leads to a continued loss of agricultural land. In turn, global economic and environmental chang ...Permalink![]()
Soil - SOER 2010 thematic assessment
European Commission, 2010Nearly all of the food and fibres used by humans are produced on soil. Soil is also essential for water and ecosystem health. It is second only to the oceans as a global carbon sink, with an important role in the potential slowing of climate change. Soil functions depend on a multitude of soil organisms which makes it an important part of our biodiversity. Nevertheless, soil in many parts of Europe is being over-exploited, degraded and irreversibly lost due to impacts from industrial activities and land use change, leading to soil sealing, contamination, erosion and loss of organic carbon. Due ...Permalink![]()
Developing the science, economics and governance of ecosystem service payments: a contribution to Norway’s support of REDD
This document reports on a workshop, hosted by Sokoine University in Tanzania and commissioned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). The workshop tackled the issue of developing ecosystem service payments in Africa in the context of Norway’s support of REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) initiatives.Permalink![]()
Blue Carbon : The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon
This report explores the potential for mitigating the impacts of climate change by improved management and protection of marine ecosystems and especially the vegetated coastal habitat, or blue carbon sinks. The objective of this report is to highlight the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems in maintaining our climate and in assisting policy makers to mainstream an oceans agenda into national and international climate change initiatives. While emissions’ reductions are currently at the centre of the climate change discussions, the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems ha ...Permalink![]()
Children's perception of the environment : a teacher's toolkit for investigating coastal and marine ecosystems in Asia
IUCN, 2009The goal of this toolkit is to help promote environmental stewardship and increase awareness of marine and coastal ecosystems among schoolchildren in Asia through the use of creative, investigative approaches. Investigative approaches allow schools to make the local environment relevant and interesting to children in coastal communities and help to reinforce the need for wise and sustainable management of our coastal and marine resources. These activities can contribute to strategies that promote interactions and understanding between coastal resource managers and local communities, which is e ...Permalink![]()
Report of the Workshop on Vulnerable Ecosystems and Destructive Fishing in Deep-sea Fisheries
FAO, 2008 (FAO Fisheries Report-No. 829)The FAO Workshop on Vulnerable Ecosystems and Destructive Fishing in Deep-sea Fisheries reviewed available information on national, institutional and personal experiences in relation to this issue. Relevant ecological considerations were reviewed and suggestions as how to consider these issues in terms of International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas were discussed and documented.Permalink![]()
Human dimensions of the ecosystem approach to fisheries : an overview of context, concepts, tools and methods
FAO, 2008 (FAO Fisheries technical paper-No. 489)This document aims to provide a better understanding of the role of the economic, institutional and sociocultural components within the ecosystem approach to fisheries
(EAF) process and to examine some potential methods and approaches that may facilitate the adoption of EAF management. It explores both the human context for the ecosystem approach to fisheries and the human dimensions involved in implementing the EAF. For the former, the report provides background material essential to understand prior to embarking on EAF initiatives, including an understanding of key concepts and issues ...Permalink![]()
Pices special publication, 1. Marine Life in the North Pacific: The Known, Unknown, and Unknowable : CoML report
PICES, 2004Includes:
- Bacterioplankton
- Phytoplankton
- Zooplankton
- Non-exploited fish and invertebrates
- Commercially-important fish and invertebrates
- Marine birds
- Mammals
- Supplemental table of UnknownsPermalink![]()
International ocean governance : using international law and organizations to manage marine resources sustainably
This report evaluates the effectiveness of international agreements and organizations and recommends numerous improvements. It includes a series of tables and maps, which can be easily updated. The tables present a problem-oriented summary of global and regional legal instruments and an indication of the scientific, technical, and legal guidance offered by international bodies.PermalinkPermalinkPermalink![]()
Global Terrestrial Observing System: GTOS implementation plan : version 2.0
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 1998The overall GTOS Implementation Plan (1998) lays out the elements of the GTOS programme and assigns levels of priority to the activities to be undertaken. The management of data and information, from data collection through to the production of information products for policy and decision making, is clearly a key element of GTOS and, in response to this imperative, there are a number of activities identified as “very important to be acted upon as quickly as possible”. These include the development of a GTOS Data and Information Plan, and the development and implementation of a number of data-r ...Permalink![]()
Global Terrestrial Observing System: GTOS data and information management plan
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); International Council for Science (ICSU); et al. - WMO, 1998The overall GTOS Implementation Plan (1998) lays out the elements of the GTOS programme and assigns levels of priority to the activities to be undertaken. The management of data and information, from data collection through to the production of information products for policy and decision making, is clearly a key element of GTOS and, in response to this imperative, there are a number of activities identified as “very important to be acted upon as quickly as possible”. These include the development of a GTOS Data and Information Plan, and the development and implementation of a number of data-r ...Permalink![]()
IPCC Special Report. The Regional Impacts of Climate Change: An Assessment of Vulnerability : summary for Policymakers
The Special Report explores the potential consequences of changes in climate for ten continental- or subcontinentalscale regions. Because of the uncertainties associated with
regional projections of climate change, the report necessarily takes the approach of assessing sensitivities and vulnerabilities of each region, rather than attempting to provide quantitative predictions of the impacts of climate change. As in the SAR, “vulnerability” is the extent to which climate change may damage or harm a system; it is a function of both sensitivity to climate and the ability to adapt to new co ...Permalink![]()
Rapport spécial du GIEC. Incidences de l'évolution du climat dans les régions: Evaluation de la vulnérabilité : résumé à l'intention des décideurs
Organisation météorologique mondiale (OMM); Zinyowera Marufu C.; Moss Richard H.; et al. - GIEC, 1997Le présent rapport examine les conséquences éventuelles de l'évolution du climat dans dix régions continentales et sous-continentales. Les incertitudes entourant les prévisions régionales des changements climatiques ont contraint les auteurs à évaluer la sensibilité et
la vulnérabilité de chaque région, plutôt que de tenter de chiffrer les incidences prévues. Comme dans le SAR, la vulnérabilité définit la mesure dans laquelle l'évolution du climat risque d'endommager un système quelconque ou de lui nuire; elle est fonction de sa sensibilité au climat et de sa capacité à s'adapter à de n ...Permalink![]()
WCP, 83. Report of the study conference on sensitivity of ecosystems and society to climate change
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - WMO, 1984PermalinkPermalink![]()
Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems (CLAMER)
CLAMER is a European Union 7th Framework Programme project Climate Change and Marine Ecosystem Research, involving 19 marine research institutes and universities from 11 European countries covering all regional seas. The project builds upon the concept that there is a gap between what is known through research and what policy makers and the public know and understand about the effects of climate change on the oceans; this gap needs to be filled to help catalyse formulation and acceptance of the necessary mitigation and adaptation measures for the marine environment. Therefore, CLAMER will comp ...Permalink