Marine Climate Change in the RSA
Climate change is increasingly affecting the ROPME Sea Area (RSA), which already experiences environmental extremes and is one of the world’s warmest seas.
Increases in temperature and salinity, reduced oxygen and ocean acidification are being observed in the RSA, along with a rising sea-level. The risk of cyclones in the Middle and Outer RSA could also be increasing. Changes in these conditions are expected to accelerate in the future, with far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and society.
Climate change and other human impacts are causing extensive degradation and loss of habitats, such as coral reefs, mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses leading to declines in the species and services they support (food, water quality, carbon storage, recreation and coastal protection).
Phytoplankton, the microscopic algae that are the basis of the marine food web, could decline in abundance, with negative impacts on important fish stocks.
Coastal settlements and infrastructure are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, storms and cyclones, and the risk of major damage is increasing. Future changes in storm and wave conditions could affect offshore activities, including fishing, oil and gas extraction and shipping.
Potential increases in jellyfish and harmful algae could disrupt operations at desalination plants and other coastal industries, and potentially affect human health.
(Extracted from the report ROPME (2020) Policy Brief: Climate Change Impacts in the ROPME Sea Area (Howes, E.L., Buckley, P., Pinnegar, J.K., Lincoln, S., Maltby, K. and Le Quesne, W. eds.), Cefas, Lowestoft, 24pp)
