Environmental Protection Agency Narragansett Bay Commission University of Rhode Island Inner Space Center

Estuarine Science

Global Environmental Changes

The Earth's global environment is changing. Recognizing the problem of potential global climate change the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988. The IPCC is helping governments understand the risks of climate change. It reviews scientific research and maps out a plan for dealing with potential problems. The IPCC is giving important advice to over 170 countries. Copies of their reports can be found on their web site (http://www.ipcc.ch). This section of the DOEE site looks at global climate change as it relates to estuaries. In particular it examines how climate change is expected to affect Rhode Island. More information on these issues can be found at the US Global Change Research Program web site (http://www.usgcrp.gov). The US Global Change Research Program has conducted 16 regional assessments as part of the national assessment of climate change across the US. The purpose of the regional assessments is to look at potential climate change issues within a region. The New England Region includes the six New England states plus New York. Much of the information here is taken from that report.



Impacts


Extreme Events


Coping Strategies


Winter Flounder
Case Study

(Image credits are listed in Image Index)

Please Note: This website is maintained as an archive of the project. This website is no longer under development.

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