Vulnerability of Semi-Enclosed Marine Systems to Environmental Disturbances

MACCRACKEN, M; ESCOBAR-BRIONES, E.; GILBERT, D.; KOROTAEV, G.; NAQVI, W; PERILLO, G.M.E.; RIXEN, T; STANEV, E.; SUNDBY, B.; THOMAS, H.; UNGER, D.; URBAN, E.R.

Watersheds, Bays, and Bounded Seas: The Science and Management of Semi-Enclosed Marine Systems

Island Press

Lugar: Washington, DC; Año: 2009; p. 9 - 29

Semi-enclosed marine systems (SEMSs) are impacted on time scales ranging from thevery short (days or less) to the very long (decades and beyond) by many of the same forcesand stresses as other components of the Earth system. Like the open ocean, SEMSs arelinked to large-scale anthropogenic disturbances through climate change, acidifi cationfrom increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), and atmospheric depositionof contaminants. Th e restricted fl ushing of SEMSs makes them vulnerable to land-baseddisturbances. Locally, SEMSs are aff ected by agricultural runoff , urbanization, and pollution.Changes in freshwater runoff and precipitation, cloudiness, winds, and upwellingcan modify sedimentation and erosion patterns and the productivity and health of thesesystems. Atmospheric motions, especially sea and land breezes, connect SEMSs withneighboring land areas. Th ese motions transport gaseous and particulate matter andnutrients, buff er diurnal and seasonal temperature variations over land, and amplifythem over the ocean.