What Are The Potential Impacts For Californias Ecosystems?
The current distribution, abundance, and vitality of species and habitats are strongly dependent on climatic (and microclimatic) conditions. Climate change is expected to result in warmer temperatures year-round, accompanied by substantially wetter winters. Rising sea level will significantly affect coastal wetlands because they are mostly within a few feet of sea level. As the sea rises, these wetlands will move inland. The overall acreage of wetlands will be reduced due to constraints by existing urban development and steeper slopes immediately inland of existing wetlands. Tidal rivers, estuaries, and relatively flat shoreline habitats will be more subject to damage by flooding and erosion. More severe storm surges from the ocean, due to higher sea levels, combined with higher river runoff could significantly increase flood levels by more than the rise in sea level alone. Erosion of beaches would decrease habitat for beach-dependent species, such as seals, shorebirds, and endangered
