Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased. Driven by human population growth and unstinted economic growth global mean surface temperature may record an increase from 3.7 °C to 4.8 °C in 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. The implications of climate change are reflected much more in the coastal and marine ecosystems as they are particularly sensitive to three key drivers related to climate change: sea level, ocean temperature and ocean acidity. Coastal and marine ecosystems are among the most productive ecosystems of Kerala and the ecological problems of the coastal zone are unique due to the high density of population, loss of land due to coastal erosion, mining of beach sand for industrial purposes, drastic morphological and shoreline changes due to shore structures like harbour breakwaters, destruction and reclamation of wetland including mangroves, saline intrusion into the water table, decreasing fish catch, development related degradation of the environment and violation of the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).   The State and the coastal zone is a developmental zone in the state.  The potential impacts of climate change are reflected on shorelines, estuaries, coastal wetlands and ecosystems bordering ocean, and the impacts in Kerala coast may be due to several key drivers including increase in sea level change, alterations in precipitation patterns and subsequent delivery of freshwater, nutrients, and sediment, increased sea surface temperature, increase in ocean acidity alterations in circulation patterns and increased levels of atmospheric CO2. Estuarine productivity could change in response to alteration in the timing and amount of freshwater, nutrients, and sediment delivery. The coastal areas, especially the low lying areas in the state such as Kuttanad, may experience adverse impacts such as submergence, coastal flooding and coastal erosion due to relative sea level rise. This will further impact the water security and food production in the coastal habitats. The highly productive ecosystems along Kerala coast, including mangroves and sea weed ecosystems would also be impacted by the climate change. This paper documents the impacts of climate change on the coastal and marine ecosystems of Kerala and proposes strategies and action plans for adaption and mitigation while finalizing State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).

Type: Journal Article
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