An interactive webinar, led by the CPO Marine Ecosystems Risk Team (MERT), featured NOAA CoastWatch staff and focused on how the CoastWatch data, tools, and capabilities can be used to inform sanctuaries science and management, including climate change assessment and adaptation.
The Strategy will lead to improved drought monitoring, forecasting, and resilience for tribal nations.
The new web portal provides data on a number of indicators that track the status and trends of seven major marine ecosystems across the United States as well as a national synthesis.
Particular focuses included the need for increased understanding of subsurface parameters; the ability of multiple labs and programs to provide needed climate expertise and information; and a desire to engage in an iterative process of project and tool development with sanctuary partners.
Participants identified rising ocean temperatures; ocean acidification and carbonate dynamics; the impacts of climate variability and change on deep water ecosystems; extreme events; and the ability to predict and project these changes at temporal and spatial scales meaningful to sanctuaries as the most pressing needs.
Americans’ health, security and economic wellbeing are tied to climate and weather. Every day, we see communities grappling with environmental challenges due to unusual or extreme events related to climate and weather.