Researchers compared the effects of two different carbon emissions trajectories and found that reducing emissions to levels required to meet the Copenhagen Accord shows benefits in many areas for the world’s oceans.
The research team found that if carbon emissions are mitigated the oceans will be cooler and less acidic. However if carbon emissions maintain their current trajectories sea levels will rise an extra 26 centimeters compared to the mitigated trajectory by 2100.
The researchers analyzed earth systems models under the two trajectories to compare the effects stringent carbon emissions mitigation will likely have in the future.
They believe these effects will increase due to other human-induced changes, such as overfishing, pollution, and sea-based resource exploitation.
Original research paper published in Science on July 3, 2015.
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