MEDSEA

MEDiterranean Sea Acidification in a changing climate

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Increases of atmospheric CO2 and associated decreases in seawater pH and carbonate ion concentration this century and beyond are likely to have wide impacts on marine ecosystems including those of the Mediterranean Sea. Consequences of this process, ocean acidification, threaten the health of the Mediterranean, adding to other anthropogenic pressures, including those from climate change. Yet in comparison to other areas of the world ocean, there has been no concerted effort to study Mediterranean acidification, which is fundamental to the social and economic conditions of more than 130 million people living along its coastlines and another 175 million who visit the region each year. The MedSeA project addresses ecologic and economic impacts from the combined influences of anthropogenic acidification and warming, while accounting for the unique characteristics of this key region. MedSeA will forecast chemical, climatic, ecological-biological, and socio-economical changes of the Mediterranean driven by increases in CO2 and other greenhouse gases, while focusing on the combined impacts of acidification and warming on marine shell and skeletal building, productivity, and food webs. We will use an interdisciplinary approach involving biologists, earth scientists, and economists, through observations, experiments, and modelling. These experts will provide science-based projections of Mediterranean acidification under the influence of climate change as well as associated economic impacts. Projections will be based on new observations of chemical conditions as well as new observational and experimental data on the responses of key organisms and ecosystems to acidification and warming, which will be fed into existing ocean models that have been improved to account for the Mediterranean´s fine-scale features. These scientific advances will allow us to provide the best advice to policymakers who must develop regional strategies for adaptation and mitigation.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Acidification of the oceans due to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and associated decreases in seawater pH levels will have a wide impact on marine ecosystems. Although this process, together with human activities, threatens the well-being of the Mediterranean Sea, it has not been studied in detail and it is too complex to be adequately resolved in global-scale climate and ocean biogeochemical models.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The http://medsea-project.eu/ (MEDSEA) (Mediterranean Sea acidification in a changing climate) project was established to plug the knowledge gap. The initiative examined the impacts of acidification. on this unique and highly populated region. The goal was to forecast chemical, climatic, biological and socioeconomic changes driven by increases in atmospheric CO2 and consequent changes in sea water carbonate chemistry.

Researchers focused on the combined impacts of acidification and warming of the Mediterranean both related to the increase in greenhouse gases on organisms that are unique or endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, major contributors to habitat building, and/or ecological function, or species of economic value in the region.

The regional vulnerabilities alter the capacity of coastal and marine systems to provide ecosystem services and consequently affect economic activities and human welfare. Projections were based on new observations of chemical conditions together with new observational and experimental data on the responses of these key organisms and ecosystems to the changing marine environment.

This information was fed into physical-chemical ocean models that were improved to account for the Mediterranean's fine-scale features. The resulting data was used to provide the best scientific advice to policymakers developing regional strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

Marine environmental protection and new knowledge of marine ecosystems is now a key part of the EU's latest research framework programme, Horizon 2020. The MEDSEA project set up an Mediterranean Reference User Group, which was instrumental in disseminating information related to acidification.

Furthermore, one of the main project goals was to engage with society at large in the fight against ocean acidification. To achieve this, the team targeted increased awareness, social activities and events, and the dissemination of key data on socially and economically sensitive topics.

The sectors most affected include fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Therefore, seafood producers and harvesters, local authorities and sports divers participated in questionnaires and fieldwork developed by project partners.

Knowledge gained through MEDSEA work is of both regional and global importance. It will support negotiation for more stringent regulation and a suitable response to the challenges of climate change and warming by making the issue a top priority for all levels of governance.