The 2013 Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) Report Card summarises the current state of scientific understanding on UK marine and coastal climate change impacts. Based upon 33 peer-reviewed scientific reports, it focuses on how climate change is affecting UK seas and combines contributions from over 150 scientists from more than 50 leading science organisations.
Key findings in the 2013 MCCIP Report Card include:
- Temperature records continue to show an overall upward trend despite short-term variability. For example, in the last decade, the average UK coastal sea-surface temperature has actually been lower in 2008-2012 than in 2003-2007.
- The seven lowest Arctic sea-ice extents in the satellite era were recorded between 2007 and 2013. The continuing downward trend is providing opportunities for the use of polar transit routes between Europe and Asia by commercial ships.
- Changes in primary production are expected throughout the UK, with southern regions (e.g. Celtic Sea, English Channel) becoming up to 10% more productive and northern regions (e.g. central and northern North Sea) up to 20% less productive; with clear implications for fisheries.
- There continue to be some challenges in identifying impacts of climate change. These are due to difficulties distinguishing between short-term variability and long-term trends, and between climate drivers and other pressures.
The Report Card includes a regional-seas climate change impacts map, which shows that most areas around the UK and Ireland are likely to be affected.
The 12-page Report Card and supporting peer-reviewed scientific papers can be accessed on the website