"We depend on the oceans---for food, jobs, recreation and solace. Ocean currents circulate the energy and water that regulate the earth's climate and weather and thus affect many aspects of the human experience, whether we live on the nation's coasts or its heartland"(Pew).

Climate Change 

       Over the past century or so, the earth has seen a significant rise in average global temperatures. Studies show that average surface temperatures have been rising at a rate of approximately 0.1°C/decade, which is significant when compared to estimates of historical values (IPCC, 2001). Whether this is primarily a result of anthropogenic influences such as emission of greenhouse gases, or of natural repeating fluctuations in climate, global warming will have a profound effect upon the oceans and should therefore be of great concern to anyone in charge of global fisheries. It is also very likely that global warming will accelerate in the near future due to positive feedback mechanisms (IPCC, 2001). Climate change is somewhat difficult to monitor, and even more so to predict accurately. Despite this, research on current systems as well as research into past global warming events provides us with an idea of what might be expected in future years. By knowing the general trends of climate change, an understanding effect on fisheries can be extrapolated.

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Zhang, Q., Yang, H., Zhong, Y., et all (2005). An idealized study of the impact of extratropical climate change on El Nino--880.

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ENVIRONMENT:

For the environment section, I posted our stuff as an attachment titled "Environment" because I was still having trouble getting my pictures into the wiki.

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Climate Changes Mitigation: (I don't know exactly where this should go)
Riparian buffer construction and preservation will help prevent damage from the increased precipitation and runoff predicted in some areas as predicted by climate models (see LINK TO RIPARIAN BUFFERS PAGE), as the overhead leaf cover helps to slow water velocity and the ground level vegetation helps slow the water velocity. Other methods that will also help decrease an increase in run-off pollution include the use of permeable asphault to encourage water infiltration and the use of different types of groundcovers in lawns (which currently act as impermeable surfaces when solely composed of dense grass)--see http://pcgroundcovers.com/groundcovers.html^{Image Removed} for examples of different types of groundcover. Education about well placement and use to prevent salt-water intrusion into freshwater should also be considered as a priority as sea-level rises become an issue.