The 2012 Marine Climate Change in Australia Report Card demonstrates that climate change is having significant impacts on Australia’s marine ecosystems, according to the CSIRO.
Key findings show warming sea temperatures are influencing the distribution of marine plants and animals, with species currently found in tropical and temperate waters likely to move south, and that some tropical fish species have a greater ability to acclimatise to rising water temperatures than previously thought.
Led by CSIRO, more than 80 Australian marine scientists from 34 universities and research organisations contributed to the 2012 report card. The report card draws on peer-reviewed research results from hundreds of scientists, demonstrating a high level of scientific consensus.
‘Our knowledge of observed and likely impacts of climate change has greatly advanced since the first card in 2009,’ CSIRO research leader Dr Poloczanska said.
Aspects of marine climate which have been analysed include changes in sea temperature, sea level, the East Australian Current, the Leeuwin Current, and El Niño-Southern Oscillation.
View the full report card: www.oceanclimatechange.org.au