Climate change in the arctic and the impact on marine ecosystemsClimate change in the arctic and

the impact on marine ecosystems

Door: Anja Jansen

Begeleiding: Wim Klaassen

2004/’05

Door: Anja Jansen

Begeleiding: Wim Klaassen

2004/’05(NASA)(NASA)

Increased warming at the polesIncreased warming at the poles

Research questionResearch question

What are the influences of climate change on the arctic

region and its marine ecosystem?

What are the influences of climate change on the arctic

region and its marine ecosystem?

TopicsTopics

Climate change

Melting of ice

Sea current changes

Ecosystem changes

Climate change

Melting of ice

Sea current changes

Ecosystem changes

The arctic climateThe arctic climate

The climate of the arctic is distinguished by its most important quality: cold.

Why is the arctic cold?

- the sunlight has to travel a long way through the atmosphere

- high albedo of the arctic region

- energy lost by warmth transport in water and melting of ice (in summer)

The climate of the arctic is distinguished by its most important quality: cold.

Why is the arctic cold?

- the sunlight has to travel a long way through the atmosphere

- high albedo of the arctic region

- energy lost by warmth transport in water and melting of ice (in summer)

Temperature change in the arcticTemperature change in the arctic

Changes in surface

temperature between the periods 1981-1992 and 1992-

2003

Changes in surface

temperature between the periods 1981-1992 and 1992-

2003

(Comiso en Parkinson, 2004)

(Comiso en Parkinson, 2004)

The Arctic oscillationThe Arctic oscillation

Arctic oscillation

Positive phase Negative phase

Arctic oscillation

Positive phase Negative phase

The arctic oscillation seems to be staying in the positive, warm phase (NOAA)

The arctic oscillation seems to be staying in the positive, warm phase (NOAA)

Ozone concentration in march 1979 (left) and march 2003 (right).

(NASA)

Ozone concentration in march 1979 (left) and march 2003 (right).

(NASA)

Temperature change in the troposphere (left) and the stratosphere (right) between

the 80’s and the 90’s of the twentieth century.

(Overland, Wang en Bond, 2002)

Temperature change in the troposphere (left) and the stratosphere (right) between

the 80’s and the 90’s of the twentieth century.

(Overland, Wang en Bond, 2002)

polar vortex

polar statospheric clouds

polar vortex

polar statospheric clouds

Trends in september sea ice concentration between 1979-1996 (a) and 1979-2002

(b)

Trends in september sea ice concentration between 1979-1996 (a) and 1979-2002

(b)

(NASA)(NASA)

The expected loss of summer sea ice in this century.

The expected loss of summer sea ice in this century.

(ACIA report, 2004)

(ACIA report, 2004)

Changes in ice coverage on greenland

Changes in ice coverage on greenland

Source: Corell (2004).

Graph of annual average temperature and average total precipitation for 1897 to 1998. Based on data for the Cascade West Climate Division. The red lines show the general trend of both temperature and precipitation, while the blue dots show

the annual variation of both values.

Graph of annual average temperature and average total precipitation for 1897 to 1998. Based on data for the Cascade West Climate Division. The red lines show the general trend of both temperature and precipitation, while the blue dots show

the annual variation of both values.

Annual runoff of Lena, Ob and

Yenisey Rivers. The Ob and

Yenisey Rivers show an

increase since the 1980s

Annual runoff of Lena, Ob and

Yenisey Rivers. The Ob and

Yenisey Rivers show an

increase since the 1980s

Seacurrent changeSeacurrent change

Slowing and possible disappearing Gulf Stream in the north atlantic

Slowing and possible disappearing Gulf Stream in the north atlantic

Important changesImportant changes

Warming

Melting of sea-ice

River runoff

Stratification

Slowing Gulf Stream

Stronger light

Warming

Melting of sea-ice

River runoff

Stratification

Slowing Gulf Stream

Stronger light

Average frostless period and the trend between 1988 and 2001

Average frostless period and the trend between 1988 and 2001

Changes of primary production between the periods 1997-2002 and 1979-1986

Changes of primary production between the periods 1997-2002 and 1979-1986

Changes in sea-ice, permafrost area and tree line expected by the end of

the century (ACIA)

Changes in sea-ice, permafrost area and tree line expected by the end of

the century (ACIA)

ACIA

ACIA

Changes in water temperature and in fish numbers observed in pacific fish harvests

(Klyashtorn and Smirnov)

Changes in water temperature and in fish numbers observed in pacific fish harvests

(Klyashtorn and Smirnov)

Red line = herring

Blue line = temperature

ACIAACIA

Influences on the ecosystemInfluences on the ecosystem

Ozone depletion & sea-ice loss :

- Reactions with sunlight -> toxic chemicals

(hydroxyl, peroxide, super-oxide, etc)

- UV-B harmful for phytoplankton

- DNA damage in bacteria and larvae

- Fish get UV-B sunburns

Ozone depletion & sea-ice loss :

- Reactions with sunlight -> toxic chemicals

(hydroxyl, peroxide, super-oxide, etc)

- UV-B harmful for phytoplankton

- DNA damage in bacteria and larvae

- Fish get UV-B sunburns

Conclusions Conclusions

The climate of the earth is a fragile equilibrium which has been changed very

often in the earth’s history.

Climate change forces species to adept or extinct, and helps new species to evolve,

by creating new habitat.

There have been many drastic changes in the arctic environment, and to fully

understand the consequences on the ecosystem needs a lot more research.

The climate of the earth is a fragile equilibrium which has been changed very

often in the earth’s history.

Climate change forces species to adept or extinct, and helps new species to evolve,

by creating new habitat.

There have been many drastic changes in the arctic environment, and to fully

understand the consequences on the ecosystem needs a lot more research.