BALANCE: an attempt to assess climate change impacts in the Barents Sea Region

Abstract. We applied coincident Earth observation data collected during 2008 and 2009 from multiple sensors (RA2, AATSR and MERIS, mounted on the European Space Agency satellite Envisat) to characterise environmental conditions and integrated sea–air fluxes of CO2 in three Arctic seas (Greenland, Barents, Kara). We assessed net CO2 sink sensitivity due to changes in temperature, salinity and sea ice duration arising from future climate scenarios. During the study period the Greenland and Barents seas were net sinks for atmospheric CO2, with integrated sea–air fluxes of −36 ± 14 and −11 ± 5 Tg C yr−1, respectively, and the Kara Sea was a weak net CO2 source with an integrated sea–air flux of +2.2 ± 1.4 Tg C yr−1. The combined integrated CO2 sea–air flux from all three was −45 ± 18 Tg C yr−1. In a sensitivity analysis we varied temperature, salinity and sea ice duration. Variations in temperature and salinity led to modification of the transfer velocity, solubility and partial pressure of CO2 taking into account the resultant variations in alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Our results showed that warming had a strong positive effect on the annual integrated sea–air flux of CO2 (i.e. reducing the sink), freshening had a strong negative effect and reduced sea ice duration had a small but measurable positive effect. In the climate change scenario examined, the effects of warming in just over a decade of climate change up to 2020 outweighed the combined effects of freshening and reduced sea ice duration. Collectively these effects gave an integrated sea–air flux change of +4.0 Tg C in the Greenland Sea, +6.0 Tg C in the Barents Sea and +1.7 Tg C in the Kara Sea, reducing the Greenland and Barents sinks by 11% and 53%, respectively, and increasing the weak Kara Sea source by 81%. Overall, the regional integrated flux changed by +11.7 Tg C, which is a 26% reduction in the regional sink. In terms of CO2 sink strength, we conclude that the Barents Sea is the most susceptible of the three regions to the climate changes examined. Our results imply that the region will cease to be a net CO2 sink in the 2050s.

Download Full-text

Climate change impacts on sea-air fluxes of CO<sub>2</sub> in three Arctic seas: a sensitivity study using earth observation

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-9-12377-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 12377-12432 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. E. Land ◽

J. D. Shutler ◽

R. D. Cowling ◽

D. K. Woolf ◽

P. Walker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sea Ice ◽

Barents Sea ◽

Earth Observation ◽

Kara Sea ◽

Sink Strength ◽

Arctic Seas ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Co2 Sink ◽

Positive Effect

Abstract. During 2008 and 2009 we applied coincident Earth observation data collected from multiple sensors (RA2, AATSR and MERIS, mounted on the European Space Agency satellite Envisat) to characterise environmental conditions and net sea-air fluxes of CO2 in three Arctic seas (Greenland, Barents, Kara) to assess net CO2 sink sensitivity due to changes in temperature, salinity and sea ice duration arising from future climate scenarios. During the study period the Greenland and Barents Seas were net sinks for atmospheric CO2, with sea-air fluxes of −34±13 and −13±6 Tg C yr−1, respectively and the Kara Sea was a weak net CO2 source with a sea-air flux of +1.5±1.1 Tg C yr−1. The combined net CO2 sea-air flux from all three was −45±18 Tg C yr−1. In a sensitivity analysis we varied temperature, salinity and sea ice duration. Variations in temperature and salinity led to modification of the transfer velocity, solubility and partial pressure of CO2 taking into account the resultant variations in alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Our results showed that warming had a strong positive effect on the annual net sea-air flux of CO2 (i.e. reducing the sink), freshening had a strong negative effect and reduced sea ice duration had a small but measurable positive effect. In the climate change scenario examined, the effects of warming in just over a decade of climate change up to 2020 outweighed the combined effects of freshening and reduced sea ice duration. Collectively these effects gave a net sea-air flux change of +3.5 Tg C in the Greenland Sea, +5.5 Tg C in the Barents Sea and +1.4 Tg C in the Kara Sea, reducing the Greenland and Barents sinks by 10% and 50% respectively, and increasing the weak Kara Sea source by 64%. Overall, the regional flux changed by +10.4 Tg C, reducing the regional sink by 23%. In terms of CO2 sink strength we conclude that the Barents Sea is the most susceptible of the three regions to the climate changes examined. Our results imply that the region will cease to be a net CO2 sink by 2060.

Download Full-text

Decision Scaling Approach to Assess Climate Change Impacts on Water Shortage Situation in the Ba River Basin—Vietnam

Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering - ICSCEA 2019 ◽

10.1007/978-981-15-5144-4_84 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 867-880

Author(s):

V. T. V. Anh ◽

T. Thuc ◽

N. Thong ◽

P. T. T. Duong

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

River Basin ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Water Shortage ◽

Assess Climate Change

Download Full-text

A critical analysis of the carbon neutrality assumption in life cycle assessment of forest bioenergy systems

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2017-0060 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 93-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Weiguo Liu ◽

Zhen Yu ◽

Xinfeng Xie ◽

Klaus von Gadow ◽

Changhui Peng

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Critical Analysis ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Carbon Accounting ◽

Carbon Neutrality ◽

Forest Residue ◽

Assess Climate Change ◽

Accounting Errors

This study presents a critical analysis regarding the assumption of carbon neutrality in life cycle assessment (LCA) models that assess climate change impacts of bioenergy usage. We identified a complex of problems in the carbon neutrality assumption, especially regarding bioenergy derived from forest residues. In this study, we summarized several issues related to carbon neutral assumptions, with particular emphasis on possible carbon accounting errors at the product level. We analyzed errors in estimating emissions in the supply chain, direct and indirect emissions due to forest residue extraction, biogenic CO2 emission from biomass combustion for energy, and other effects related to forest residue extraction. Various modeling approaches are discussed in detail. We concluded that there is a need to correct accounting errors when estimating climate change impacts and proposed possible remedies. To accurately assess climate change impacts of bioenergy use, greater efforts are required to improve forest carbon cycle modeling, especially to identify and correct pitfalls associated with LCA accounting, forest residue extraction effects on forest fire risk and biodiversity. Uncertainties in accounting carbon emissions in LCA are also highlighted, and associated risks are discussed.

Download Full-text

Marine living resources of the Barents Sea – Ecosystem understanding and monitoring in a climate change perspective

Marine Biology Research ◽

10.1080/17451000.2013.775459 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 932-947 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Kathrine Michalsen ◽

Padmini Dalpadado ◽

Elena Eriksen ◽

Harald Gjøsæter ◽

Randi B. Ingvaldsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Barents Sea ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Barents Sea Ecosystem

Download Full-text

Development of an integrated computational tool to assess climate change impacts on water supply–demand and flood inundation

Journal of Hydroinformatics ◽

10.2166/hydro.2013.018 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 710-730 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Pao-Shan Yu ◽

Tao-Chang Yang ◽

Chen-Min Kuo ◽

Shien-Tsung Chen

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Supply ◽

Impact Assessment ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Water Shortage ◽

Adaptation Strategy ◽

Future Scenarios ◽

Assess Climate Change ◽

Southern Taiwan

This paper aims to propose a decision support system (DSS) for evaluating the climate change impacts on water supply–demand and inundation; and assessing the risks for water shortage and inundation under future scenarios. The proposed DSS framework is universal and flexible, which comprises five modules integrated by a geographic information system platform, including the modules of (1) scenario rainfall and temperature projection under climate change, (2) impact assessment of water supply–demand, (3) impact assessment of inundation, (4) assessment of vulnerability and risk, and (5) adaptation strategy. A case study in southern Taiwan was performed to demonstrate how the DSS provides information on the climate change impacts and risks under future scenarios. The information is beneficial to the authorities of water resources management for understanding the spatial risks for water shortage and inundation, and planning suitable adaptation strategies for the locations with larger risks.

Download Full-text