Coastal Systems Climate change and sea level rise, or changes in storms or storm surges could cause the erosion of shores and associated habitat, an increase in the salinity of estuaries and freshwater aquifers, a change in tidal ranges in rivers and bays, a change in sediment and nutrient transport, a change in the pattern of chemical and microbiological contamination in coastal areas, and an increase in coastal flooding. The ecosystems at risk are salt water marshes, mangrove ecosystems, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, coral atolls, and river deltas. Oceans Changing atmospheric temperatures will change patterns of ocean circulation, vertical mixing, wave climate, and quantities of sea-ice cover. These changes will affect nutrient availability, biological productivity, and the structure and function of marine ecosystems. Abrupt shifts in climate have had adverse effects on human civilizations in the past.
Production is projected to increase in high latitudes, in freshwater and from aquaculture.
Warmer climates should increase the growing season, decrease natural winter variability, and improve growing rates in high latitude regions. However, these beneficial results may be counterbalanced by changes in reproductive patterns, migration routes, and ecosystem relationships. Food Production Total global food production is not expected to change substantially as a result of climate change, but production will probably change dramatically regionally. Some areas will have increasing crop yields. Others will decline, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.