01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-08-0230 |
| Title of Abstract | Application of decadal of time-series satellite data for assessment of trend of change and marine climate dimension in ROPME Sea Area |
| Authors | Wahid Moufaddal*, Mohammad AlAhmad |
| Organisation | The Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Enviro |
| Address | Block 3, Housing Parcel 900020, CAPITAL GOVERNORATE Kuwait, Granada, Kuwait Pincode: 0000 E-mail: w.moufaddal@ropme.org |
| Country | Kuwait |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Many coastal sectors in the ROPME Sea Area (non-UNEP administered Regional Sea) and other marginal Seas of the Indian Ocean are now threatened by sea level rise and impacts of the climate change. Among other hazards, hurricanes and storm surges, sand and dust storms, and extreme heat waves are remarkably increased in both frequency and severity in this Sea Area. The coastal ecosystems particularly, in the inner part of the ROPME Sea Area (Arabian / Persian Gulf), are started to experience variable ecological troubles e.g. increase of low-oxygen (dead) marine zones, frequent harmful algal blooms, and sea surface temperature anomalies and extreme heat waves. Unfortunately, knowledge of marine climate change dimension and its impact on coastal and marine areas in this part and other subdivisions of the ROPME Sea Area, which is very critical for marine resource and risk-management issues of the Region, is relatively poor compared with other Regional Seas. In order to effectively manage these risks and to select proper mitigation and / or adaptation strategies, it is essential and vital to assess the degree of vulnerability of coastal areas and associated coastal ecosystems to climate change. In compliance with this pre-requisite, time series analysis of decadal multi-sensor satellite records of sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a have been applied for evaluating the dimension of marine climate change and assessment trend of change in this Inner and middle parts of the ROPME Sea Area. Results of time series analysis reveal that the Inner ROPME Sea Area experienced a long-term surface warming of about 1.1 °C in about 20 years (2002-2022). In contrast, variability of surface chlorophyll and marine productivity showed a general downward trend suggesting a significant shift in the structure and assemblage of the common phytoplankton groups. The Middle part of the ROPME Sea Area manifested similar change. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | ROPME Sea Area, satellite sst and chl-a, change trend, coastal and marine ecosystems |
| For Awards | no |