Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has developed a Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC) as a summary for Policymakers. The report is based on more than 7000 scientific publications including Second edition of Ocean State Report published by Copernicus Marine Service.
The ocean as an ecosystem is very important, it softens the effects of climate change by absorbing more than 90% of the excess heat (among other things) in the Earth’s climate system. However, the report reveals that the global ocean is stratified, rising, rapidly warming, and becoming increasingly acidic.
The SROCC highlights that if we are to fulfil ambitious policies of curbing human emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change, we will have to use and strengthen all knowledge sources available. In Europe, key insights into the ocean’s vital signs are provided by the European Commission’s Copernicus Marine Service, which provides data and information based on satellite data, in-situ measurements, and numerical models. Copernicus Marine data products are already being used to help people all over the world, from Chile to the Mediterranean, adapt to changing oceans.
Read more about Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate here.
Copernicus is the World’s largest and most ambitious Earth observation programme. It provides accurate, timely and easily accessible information to improve the management of the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure civil security. Since 2017, the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) is a member and Latvia’s representative of Copernicus Relay and Academy networks. IES explains possibilities offered by the Copernicus program for national, business and public needs, organise training and information activities. Since 2015 IES in cooperation with European Space Agency is using Copernicus satellite data for assessment of different environmental and natural resources.
Find more about IES work in Copernicus network here.
Find more about IES cooperation with European Space Agency here.