Six centuries of variability and extremes in a coupled marine-terrestrial ecosystem

Bryan A. Black, William J. Sydeman, David C. Frank, Daniel Griffin, David W. Stahle, Marisol García-Reyes, Ryan R. Rykaczewski, Steven J. Bograd, William T. Peterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reported trends in the mean and variability of coastal upwelling in eastern boundary currents have raised concerns about the future of these highly productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems. However, the instrumental records on which these estimates are based are insufficiently long to determine whether such trends exceed preindustrial limits. In the California Current, a 576-year reconstruction of climate variables associated with winter upwelling indicates that variability increased over the latter 20th century to levels equaled only twice during the past 600 years. This modern trend in variance may be unique, because it appears to be driven by an unprecedented succession of extreme, downwelling-favorable, winter climate conditions that profoundly reduce productivity for marine predators of commercial and conservation interest. Copyright

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1498-1502
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume345
Issue number6203
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 19 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Six centuries of variability and extremes in a coupled marine-terrestrial ecosystem'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this