Marine: Beaches and bluffs

Submitted by Jorge Tomasevic on Fri, 2012-06-01 09:19

Geography:

PNW

Direct Sensitivities

Direct sensitivities to changes in temperature and precipitation:
There are two ways to consider a system's direct sensitivity to changes in temperature and precipitation; 1) Does the system inhabit a relatively narrow climatic zone(s) (making it more sensitive)? and 2) Does the system show large changes in composition or structure in response to relatively small changes in temperature or precipitation (making it more sensitive) or conversely, would it take much larger changes in temperature and precipitation to elicit a change in composition or structure (i.e., a less sensitive system)?

How sensitive is this system to temperature (means and extremes):

Confidence in the direct sensitivity to changes in temperature and precipitation:

How sensitive is this system to precipitation (means and extremes):

Comments:

Marine systems were assessed during a March 2012 workshop of experts. * Beaches more sensitive to temp (veg, fauna, organic decay, bacteria), bluffs are more sensitive to precip (erosion). * Hotter and drier conditions will affect fish spawning, flora/fauna, nutrient cycling, organic matter decay/bacteria * Increased intense precip during the fall/winter will lead to more sediment production.

Indirect Sensitivities

Indirect sensitivities:
More sensitive systems will show larger changes in composition or structure in response to small changes in indirect factors, such as disturbance regimes. Conversely, it would take much larger changes in these factors to elicit a change in composition or structure in less sensitive systems.

How sensitive is this system on one or more indirect factors:

Confidence in the sensitivity to indirect factors:

Please select all indirect factors upon which this habitat is sensitive:

Water chemistry

Sea-level rise

Coastal erosion

Flooding

Wave action

Currents

Storms

Other, please describe in Comments below

Comments:

Marine systems were assessed during a March 2012 workshop of experts. The following are the individual scores that each expert identified (first number is sensitivity and the second is the associated confidence): **First group: River/Puget Sound * water temperature (1, 2) * water chemistry (3-4, 4) * sea-level rise (6-7, 5) * flooding (3-5, 5) * coastal erosion (4-5, 5) * wave action (4-6, 5) * currents (4-6, 5) * storms (5-6, 5) * Other: submarine groundwater discharge (3-5, 5) **Next group: Wave/Marine * water temperature (1, 5) * water chemistry (3-4, 4) * sea-level rise (6-7, 5) * flooding (3-5, 5) * coastal erosion (5-6, 5) * wave action (5-6, 5) * currents (4-6, 5) * storms (5-7, 5) * disease ( , ). * Other: submarine groundwater discharge (3-5, 5) **Note: Scores based on IF these processes change, not including what /how we expect them to change. This question could inform us better if we include trends/magnitudes of expected change. Also pending distinction between shoreline modified systems.

Other Stressors

Sensitivity to impacts of other stressors:

To what degree do other, non‐climate‐related threats to the system make it more sensitive to climate change:

Confidence in the degree to which non‐climate‐related threats affect the systems’ sensitivity to climate change:

Please select all of the stressors that make the system more sensitive to climate change::

Land‐use change

Invasive/exotic species

Pollution

Harvest

Other, please describe in Comments below

Comments:

Marine systems were assessed during a March 2012 workshop of experts. The following are the individual scores that each expert identified (just sensitivity scores, no confidence for the individual categories): * Land-use change (7) * Invasice/exotic species (3) * Harvest (5) * Pollution (6) * Other: water management (river and groundwater) (5). Excess groundwater pumping/use is likely affecting (and is in Hawaii) beach/bluff sediment, moisture, cooling. * Pollution: reduce resilience to climate and disturbance. * Land-use change: development/armoring/shoreline modification.

Other Sensitivities

Other Sensitivities:
Are there other critical factors that have not been addressed that will likely make this system more sensitive to climate change?*
*Please include any other factor that you may consider critical to understand the potential response of this system to climate change that was not represented with the previous questions. If no other factors apply, please leave it blank but specify your confidence associated with this question.

Comments:

Perception and attitude towards the affect of sea-level rise on beach walls is that it leads to loss of the beach, but if it is left to migrant we may have beaches that remain. This system needs human assistance to migration/retreat. Also public understanding of key processes that sustain habitats and the interaction of processes. Beaches are some of the ultimate integrators of these processes.

Overall User Ranking

This question is not included in the sensitivity score.
Overall User Ranking:

In your opinion, how would you rank the overall sensitivity of this system to climate change:

Confidence in your overall assessment of the sensitivity of this system to climate change:

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Climate Change Sensitivity Database

Marine: Beaches and bluffs