Tags: Climate Change, Marine Biodiversity, South Africa, Pelagic Fish Recruitment, Benguela System, Rocky Shores, Estuaries

Climate change is as old as the atmosphere itself and has occurred for many millions of years. Prior to the industrial revolution, the principal causes of climate change included factors such as plate tectonics, orogenic activity, changes in solar output and the position of the earth relative to the sun. Changes in global climate between now and the middle of the 21st century, however, are likely to be dominated by the influence of the greenhouse effect caused by increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide(N2O), ozone (O3) and halocarbons (CFCs etc.) (Wigley 1992). Rising concentrations of these gases, caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, various industrial processes and changing land use are enhancing the natural greenhouse effect, resulting in additional warming of the earth’s surface.

The Effects Of Climate Change On Marine Biodiversity In South Africa.pdf