IPCC report: CEH science makes key contributions

Several scientific studies led by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) are cited in
'Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability', a major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which was published this week.

The report, from Working Group II of the IPCC, states that the effects of climate change are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans. It details the impacts of climate change to date, the future risks from a changing climate, and the opportunities for effective action to reduce risks.

CEH's science was cited in chapters examining Freshwater resources, Terrestrial and inland water systems, Food security and Detection and attribution of observed impacts.

CEH authors and publications referenced in the IPCC report include:

• Trophic level asynchrony in rates of phenological change for marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments Thackeray et al. Global Change Biology 2010.
• Simulated resilience of tropical rainforests to CO2-induced climate change Huntingford et al. Nature Geoscience 2013
• Impact of changes in diffuse radiation on the global land carbon sink Mercado et al. Nature 2009
• How might climate change affect river flows across the Thames Basin? An area-wide analysis using the UKCP09 Regional Climate Model ensemble Bell et al. Journal of Hydrology 2012
• Changes in habitat specificity of species at their climatic range boundaries Oliver et al. Ecology Letters 2009

CEH Director Professor Mark Bailey said:

“The IPCC’s landmark study warns that climate change is already here and is impacting every continent on planet earth. CEH’s national capability and long-term and large-scale monitoring platforms provide early warning of environmental change and underpin management solutions for land and freshwaters across the UK and globally. Our research, such as that used in the IPCC report, provides robust evidence for policymakers to drive adaptation opportunities and build increased resilience, and shows the importance of long-term and large-scale monitoring.”

Further information on IPCC report

A changing climate creates pervasive risks but opportunities exist for effective responses - IPCC Report (United Nations Environment Programme News Centre)

Assessing and managing the effects of climate change (CEH News Blog)

Further information on CEH science

Meeting the challenges of environmental change (CEH Science Strategy 2014-2019)

Staff page of Professor Mark J Bailey


Posted by Paulette Burns