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First, we acknowledge that the issue of global climate change is outside the scope of Mission 2011's proposed solutions. However, this is a matter of such global importance and potential impact that to not discuss the issue at all, even briefly, would have been negligent. Furthermore, we emphasize that slowing or stopping the progress of anthropogenic global warming is necessary. For more information on this topic we suggest visiting the website of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change at <http://www.ipcc.ch
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Over the past century and a half, the earth has seen a significant rise in average global temperatures (see Figure 1). Studies show that average surface temperatures have risen at the rate of approximately 0.1°C/decade, which is significant when compared to estimates of historical changes (IPCC, 2001). Whether Regardless of whether this temperature change increase is primarily a result of anthropogenic influences such as the emission of greenhouse gases, or of natural fluctuations in climate, global warming will have a profound effect upon the oceans and should therefore be of great concern to anyone with a stake in 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 quite difficult to monitor, and even more difficult to predict accurately. Despite this, research on current systems as well as research into past global warming events provides us with an a general idea of what can be expected in future years. Through knowledge Knowledge of the these general trends of climate change, and historical examples allows an understanding of their effects on fisheries can begin to be developed.
Figure 1. Annual anomalies of global average land-surface air temperature (Jones et al., 2001).
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