Summary:

Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations threaten global ocean ecosystems through the duel actions of raising ocean temperatures and ocean acidification.  The lecture examines a wide range of impacts cause by these twin threats that includes: impacts on coral reefs, shifts in biogeographic provinces of pelagic ecosystems, rapid changes in arctic ecosystems, global expansion of oxygen minimum zones and the broad impacts of ocean acidification.  An emphasis will be placed on the speed at which changes are taking place and the need for rapid action to bring CO₂ emissions to zero by mid-century. 

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The 2017 Cornell University Climate Change Seminar meets Monday afternoons through May 8. This university-wide seminar provides important views on the critical issue of climate change, drawing from many perspectives and disciplines. Experts from both Cornell University and other universities will present an overview of the science of climate change and climate change models, the implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and food systems, and provide important economic, ethical, and policy insights on the issue.

The seminar is free and open to the Cornell and Ithaca Community at large, and will be available via Zoom Webinar.

Organized and sponsored by the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, the Cornell Institute for Climate Smart Solutions, and the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future.