Global Change

Sea-level rise, warming temperatures, and changes in weather patterns pose particular challenges to the Chesapeake Bay and coastal zone. Learn what VIMS scientists are doing to help society understand, mitigate, and adapt to our rapidly changing climate. Also visit our Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) and AdaptVA and CCRFR websites.

Top Stories

• Study shows wetter climate is likely to intensify global warming (May 2020) Analysis led by Dr. Christopher Hein of VIMS indicates greater tropical rainfall may increase microbes’ release of carbon dioxide from soils into air.
• Study considers sensory impacts of global climate change (Jul 2019) A study led by VIMS researcher Emily Rivest synthesizes the results of pioneering behavioral studies and provides a conceptual framework to help guide future research in this emerging field.
• Governor calls on VIMS to help increase flooding resiliency (Nov 2018) Executive Order leverages VIMS long-term monitoring programs and expertise in flood forecasting to help make the Commonwealth more resilient to sea-level rise.

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Advisory Service Reports/White Papers

Read the white papers prepared by VIMS' scientists for our Initiative for Coastal Climate Change Research.

Five Most Recent Journal Articles

1. Beltran, R.S., et al., 2021. Seasonal resource pulses and the foraging depth of a Southern Ocean top predator. Proc Biol Sci, 288(1947): p. 20202817. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2817
2. Woodland, R.J., et al., 2020. Environmental Drivers of Forage Fishes and Benthic Invertebrates at Multiple Spatial Scales in a Large Temperate Estuary. Estuaries and Coasts. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-020-00835-9
3. Thibodeau, P.S., et al., 2020. Long-term observations of pteropod phenology along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers, 166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2020.103363
4. Thibodeau, P.S., D.K. Steinberg, and A.E. Maas, 2020. Effects of temperature and food concentration on pteropod metabolism along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2020.151412
5. Schepers, L., et al., 2020. Evaluating indicators of marsh vulnerability to sea level rise along a historical marsh loss gradient. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4869

Read a full list of VIMS-authored journal articles related to global change.