The changing climate has already affected the Baltic Sea Region. The ecosystem on land and in the sea has started the adaptation to higher temperatures, and the change will continue.
The new compilation BACC II, Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin, contains a review of how the climate in the Baltic Sea Region has changed to date and how it will change until the year 2100. The assessment has been compiled by 141 researchers from twelve countries.
“More detailed and better data and additional model studies enable us to talk more about the future and the expected climate change, and how it will affect the region,” says Markus Meier, researcher in oceanography at the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI).
Description of the climate in the region
Similar to the first edition of the BACC book, which was published in 2008, BACC II describes the climate to date and in the future. Researchers present how the climate will change until the year 2100, based on the expected global climate change and model estimates of the Baltic Sea Region.
New chapter: Increase of the sea level, coastal erosion and effects on urban areas
The book contains completely new chapters on increase of the sea level, coastal erosion and effects on urban areas. It is also about possible causes of regional climate change and the global effects of increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, aerosols in the atmosphere and changes in vegetation on land.
The research programme Baltic Earth is behind BACC II
The book BACC II, Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin, consists of approximately 500 pages divided in 25 chapters in which a total of 141 authors from twelve countries share their knowledge. It was produced within the research network Baltic Earth, which in an interdisciplinary manner develops better knowledge on the climate change in the Baltic Sea Region. BACC II contributes to the World Climate Research Programme.
The book BACC II is published by the publisher Springer and can be downloaded digitally. It can also be ordered in printed format.