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How climate change will affect the Chesapeake Bay
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The expected impact of climate change on the mid-Atlantic region could complicate the EPA's current push to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay.
There is a broad scientific consensus that air and water temperatures are increasing, sea level is rising and precipitation patterns are predicted to change in the region, according to the EPA.
Here are some of the changes that likely will accompany sea-level rise in the Chesapeake Bay, according to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Chesapeake Bay Office:
Coastal habitats will be threatened, as sea level continues to rise. Wetlands will continue to retreat, increasing the erosion of shorelines. Shallow waters will become more turbid, making it difficult for underwater grasses to survive.
An increase in water temperatures may alter local fisheries to the extent that cooler-water species such as striped bass would be replaced by warmer species, such as brown shrimp.
While warmer temperature may increase the growing season of species such as oysters, other factors could be dangerous, such at the early onset of diseases associated with warmer temperatures. For example, MSX and Dermo, which are devastating diseases of oysters.
Harmful algae blooms will thrive with temperature extremes.
Changes in river flow would affect nutrient and sediment loadings to the bay, as well as alter dissolved oxygen levels. With increased flows come increased nutrients and sediment loadings that have the potential to change salinity distributions and estuarine circulation.
Increased water temperatures favor low dissolved oxygen levels. This would further degrade coastal water quality and likely reduce overall system productivity.
Less-desirable gelatinous plankton would continue to dominate bay waters and out-compete with economically important aquatic species for limited resources.
These predicted changes will make ongoing restoration efforts more difficult in the Chesapeake Bay. The more we can do now to prepare ourselves and the coastal region for these changes, the better, according to the NOAA.
The good news is now there is greater leadership from the president and action from several federal departments to restore the bay. Among the major recommendations by the EPA in the executive summary of its recent report (see: http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net) are: 1) establish a center for climate science research and assessment; 2) integrate climate change concerns into Chesapeake Bay partnership activities and strengthening legaislative authority; 3) enhance existing tools and developing new tools and technical information to better understand and respond to climate change; 4) establish adaptation guidance for managing federal programs and lands.
For related articles on the Chesapeake Bay and environment, click the links below.
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