About this Research Topic
The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) highlighted that conditions within Earth’s ocean are changing more rapidly than any of the time during the past 65 million years, and as a consequence, major changes are occurring in natural and human systems. While this major report as enhanced our understanding of the complexity of ocean issues, we propose this research topic as an opportunity to expand discussion on past, present and future changes across oceans regions. We envisage a series of manuscripts that will cover aspects ranging from observed and projected climate change to consequences for ocean sectors, human societies and ocean governance. In particular, we ask for submissions on the following topics: observed and projected physical and chemical changes across ocean regions; modes of variability in ocean climate and challenges these bring to attribution of observed changes in ocean regions; implications for oxygen profile, nutrient cycling, ocean productivity and carbon sequestration and consequences for ocean sectors; ocean acidification and the risks to the productivity of fisheries and aquaculture; the security of regional livelihoods given the direct and indirect effects of these variables on physiological processes and ecological processes; effects on i. High latitude spring bloom systems, ii. Major upwelling systems, iii Coastal boundary systems, iv Semi-enclosed seas, v. Polar oceans, vi. Coral reef ecosystems, vii. Deep sea ecosystems, and viii. Sub-tropical gyres, highlighting key risks and vulnerabilities, consequences for major sectors and adaptation opportunities and limitations. We also ask for contributions on implications for sectors in the ocean particularly fisheries and aquaculture from large commercial enterprises to small-scale fisheries, and energy and mineral extraction as well as maritime security, and ocean governance.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
