Assessment of Climate Change Implications on Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Using Satellite Data
摘要
Climate change has been part of the natural cycle of our planet. However, the high growth in greenhouse gases since the beginning of the twentieth century has contributed to an increase of climate change. This phenomenon is a real threat to the land and marine areas, their landscapes, biodiversity, and natural resources. The impacts of climate change are extremely varied. Most developing countries sufferer from great challenges because of the climate extremes, especially countries that have a dense population, limited resources, and dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. Coastal areas are considered one of the environmental systems that are particularly exposed to current and projected risks connected to climate change. This chapter introduces the impacts of climate change on coastal zones and marine ecosystems, including coastal erosion, sea-level rise, sea-surface temperature, ocean color, and acidification. Low-lying areas (deltas) are among the most impacted coastal areas owing to climate change. One of the most serious threats posed by climate change in these areas is sea-level rise and coastal changes (case study). The role of satellite data in climate-change assessment, policy implications, and challenges are addressed.