Although the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems have not been at the forefront of policy discussions or public discourse, there is growing scientific evidence that these changes are impacting a wide variety of factors ranging from ocean circulation to changes in productivity of fisheries. We are working to synthesize existing science and more effectively communicate it to inform decision making at local, regional, and national scales. 

Previous Events

AAAS Session - Adapting to a clear and present danger: Climate change and ocean ecosystems (Feb 2011)

Climate Change Initiative Workshop (Nov 2010)

The COMPASS Climate Change Initiative (CCI) brought together marine scientists across disciplines to synthesize existing research on the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Previous assessments and syntheses have addressed the physical and chemical changes associated with climate change, such as temperature, winds and currents.  At the time of the last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment in 2007 ecological impacts were not well documented or clearly understood.  Since that time the science has progressed rapidly.  This effort will provide a synthesis of ecological impacts to help inform policy, management, and scientific research in advance of the next IPCC assessment.  

 Products

Synthesis paper: Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems (2012)

This recent paper from the COMPASS Climate Change Initiative takes a comprehensive look at the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, including three illustrative examples focused on polar seas, the California Current, and coral reefs. Doney et al. (2012) in Annual Review of Marine Science