Climate Change: Effects, Causes, Consequences Physical, Hydromorphological, Ecophysiological, and Biogeographical Changes in Coastal Wetlands and Waters

Abstract

Global climate change is impacting coastal systems in a number of ways, including higher temperatures, accelerated sea-level rise, changes in rainfall and freshwater discharge, and in the frequency and intensity of tropical storms. Increasing temperature is causing a shift in the tropical–temperate interface towards higher latitudes. Recent reports suggest that sea level will continue to rise from 1.0 to 1.5m by 2100. In general, precipitation will continue to increase near the equator and at higher latitudes and decrease in the outer tropics and lower temperate zone. Accelerated sea-level rise is threatening coastal wetlands and other lowland environments. Two important physiological causes of wetland loss are flooding and salinity stresses and climate change will likely exacerbate both of these. Freshwater discharge will continue to increase to some coastal areas and decrease to others, with potential impacts on severe floods, wetland vegetation, and coastal productivity. Accelerated sea-level rise combined with increased temperatures will lead to multiple stresses on coastal wetlands due to increased salinity and excessive inundation. In general, long-term changes in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones will likely affect the structure of coastal plant communities and rates of processes such as nutrient cycling and primary and secondary productivity. Climate change is and will continue to interact with other human impacts to produce effects greater than with climate change alone and will impact ecosystem goods and services. It is important to maintain healthy coastal ecosystems because they will better cope with climate change. However, due to momentum of the climate system, society must move from restoration to adaptation.