Climate change is making the Arctic a greener, warmer, and increasingly accessible place for economic opportunity. However, climate impacts such as sea ice loss and rising ocean acidification are straining coastal community resilience and sound resource stewardship. The NOAA Arctic Action Plan report outlines ways for scientists and stakeholders to share their progress regarding this vast, valuable, and vulnerable region.
Assessing the Vulnerability of Fish Stocks in a Changing Climate
March 12, 2014
NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Earth Research Laboratory have finalized a new methodology to rapidly assess the vulnerability of U.S. marine stocks to a changing climate. The methodology uses existing information on climate and ocean conditions, species distributions, and species life history characteristics in order to estimate the relative vulnerability of fish stocks to potential changes in climate.
Navigating Change: Hawaii's Approach to Adaptation
February 26, 2014
A report based on the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA) was recently presented to the President's Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience. The report examines climate change impacts in Hawaii and also assesses the adaptive capacity of the Pacific Island communities.
In this activity, students research various topics about ocean health, e.g. overfishing, habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change, pollution, and ocean acidification. An optional extension activity has them creating an aquatic biosphere in a bottle experiment in which they can manipulate variables.
Managing for a Future in a Rapidly Changing Arctic
February 5, 2014
In consultation with the National Ocean Council, the National Security Staff, and the Arctic Research Commission, the Alaska Interagency Working Group completed a report describing environmental, social, and economic issues in the arctic U.S. to the federal government and its partners in order to address management challenges in the region.
On September 27, 2013, Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented its report to member governments for approval and acceptance. The report is the first of four that will make up the IPCC's 5th Assessment.
According to a new National Climate Assessment report, the nation's valuable ocean ecosystems and marine resources are being affected by a changing climate. These impacts are expected to increase in coming years, putting marine resources — and the people and economies that depend on them — at risk.