Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Inthe present chapter we briefly summarize documented changes and variations in the
physical, chemical, and biological nature of the marine environment over basin-wide zones
and decadal or longer time-scales, omitting any in-depth analysis of possible consequences
for biology and the ecosystem. In this brief overview of changing ocean conditions, many
aspects cannot be covered, but are all required to obtain an understanding of the processes
and the concerns for global environmental change. Reference is made to mainstream over-
views presented in the regular assessments of the IPCC with respect to climate change, and
publications such as Field, Hempel, and Summerhayes (
2002
) for the marine environment
and Robinson and Brink (
1998
) for regional and shelf seas; and Sherman, Aquarone, and
