The World Does Not Stand Still – Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change in Papahānaumokuākea
Date/Time: August 19, 2021 12 pm Hawaiʻi / 3 pm Pacific / 6 pm Eastern
Current and future impacts from climate change are considered to be the single greatest threat to the long-term integrity of Papahānaumokuākea. The effects of climate change are already being observed, with rising sea levels leading to shoreline retreat, increasing ocean heat content producing more frequent and severe coral bleaching events, and a more westward trajectory for tropical cyclones inflicting severe damage to certain atolls, notably Lalo (French Frigate Shoals). Current modelling indicates that all these stressors will continue to impact the Monument to progressively greater degrees going forward, producing major resource management challenges. A climate change vulnerability assessment for the Monument was completed in 2016, and the managers are now moving forward to convert this into an action plan that will facilitate future climate adaptation. Join this webinar to learn more from Dr. Dan Polhemus, Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants program manager at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands.
This presentation is part of the Third Thursday By the Bay Presentation Series at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center that is the visitor center for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. This State of the Monument lecture series is also supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources, and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. This series currently targets formal and informal educators, students (high school through college), as well as members of the community, including families. You can also visit the archives of the webinar series to catch up on presentations you may have missed here.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The Webinar ID is 280-892-531.