what every pacific island leader should know about climate change robert h. richmond, ph.d. kewalo...
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What Every Pacific Island Leader Should Know About Climate Change
Robert H. Richmond, Ph.D.
Kewalo Marine Laboratory
Pacific Biosciences Research Center
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Importance of Coral Reefs
Approximately 30% of Reefs Have Been Negatively Impacted by Human Activities
Nuclear Testing: Extreme/Acute Disturbance
Anthropogenic Disturbance
Overfishing
Coastal Pollution Recreational Impacts
Erosion & Sedimentation
Global Climate Change
• Massive Regional Bleaching Events
• Alternate Stable States
• Ocean Acidification
• Irish Potato Famine of Reefs
Typhoons and Sea Level
Aragonite Saturation Levels in 1995
50°E 100°E 150°E 160°W 110°W 60°W 10°WKleypas et al., 2006
Aragonite Saturation Levels in 2040
• • 50°E 100°E 150°E 160°W 110°W 60°W 10°W• Kleypas et al., 2006
Ocean acidification effects
Fine and Tchernov, Science, 2007
Persistence and Perpetuation of Coral Reefs
N
0 50 100
Sediment plume
Credits: Teina Rongo
Ngerikill Bay, Airai State – Republic of Palau
Changes in Community Characteristics
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1900 1950 1960 1970 2009 2050 2060 2070 2100
Year
L
ive
Cor
al C
over
(%)
As-is +W LBR+W LBR+W+A optimistic
Future Scenarios
Community Meetings – Ngermeduu Bay
Local and Regional Capacity
Partnerships, Trust and Common Goals