International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 182-192 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 182 Research Insight Open Access Evaluating the Mechanisms of Coastal Circulation and Their Responses to Climate Change Qiong Wang, Liqing Chen Tropical Marine Fisheries Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding author: liqingchen@hitar.org International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol.14, No.3, doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0023 Received: 09 May, 2024 Accepted: 17 Jun., 2024 Published: 08 Jul., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Wang and Chen, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproductio4n in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang Q., and Chen L.Q., 2024, Evaluating the mechanisms of coastal circulation and their responses to climate change, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(3): 182-192 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0023) Abstract Coastal circulation is driven by factors such as wind, tides, and thermohaline gradients, and is significantly influenced by coastal topography, adding to its complexity. This study systematically evaluates the mechanisms of coastal circulation and their responses to climate change, emphasizing the crucial role of these processes in understanding ocean dynamics and predicting future changes. By examining case studies from various regions, the study discusses the regional variations in coastal circulation and the effectiveness of current models in predicting these changes. Innovations in technology and methodology, such as improvements in modeling techniques and advances in observational technologies, provide new perspectives and tools for researching coastal circulation. Integrating these detailed data into advanced numerical models helps to more accurately predict the performance of coastal circulation under the impacts of climate change, especially in terms of changes in wind patterns, sea level rise, and changes in ocean temperature and salinity. This study also identifies challenges and knowledge gaps in the research, and proposes future research directions to better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate change on these critical systems. Keywords Coastal circulation; Climate change; Observational technologies; Numerical modeling; Environmental impact 1 Introduction Coastal circulation refers to the movement of water along coastlines, driven by various factors including wind, tides, and differences in water density. This circulation plays a crucial role in transporting nutrients, sediments, and organisms, thereby supporting marine ecosystems and influencing coastal weather patterns. One of the key processes in coastal circulation is upwelling, where deep, nutrient-rich waters are brought to the surface, fueling primary productivity and supporting rich marine biodiversity (Sydeman et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2015; Arellano and Rivas, 2019). Understanding the mechanisms of coastal circulation is vital for several reasons. Firstly, it helps in predicting the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. For instance, changes in wind patterns and ocean temperatures can alter upwelling intensity, affecting marine productivity and biodiversity. Secondly, coastal circulation influences local climate and weather patterns, which can have significant socio-economic impacts, particularly in regions dependent on fisheries and tourism (Howard et al., 2020). Lastly, knowledge of coastal circulation is essential for managing coastal resources and mitigating the effects of environmental changes, such as sea-level rise and increased storm frequency (Dodet et al., 2019). This study analyzes the impact of climate change on wind patterns and their effects on coastal upwelling systems, investigates the interactions between ocean warming, stratification, and upwelling dynamics, and evaluates the broader impacts of changes in coastal circulation on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. It identifies gaps in current research and proposes future research directions to enhance our understanding of coastal circulation under the backdrop of climate change. By synthesizing the results of multiple studies, this research aims to comprehensively understand how coastal circulation mechanisms are affected by climate change and to address the complex challenges posed by climate change.
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