IPCC report on the ocean and cryosphere - Zero Carbon Analytics

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics summarizes the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, detailing the accelerating degradation of polar regions, oceans, and mountain ecosystems. It highlights the irreversible nature of some changes, the risks to global sea levels and water security, and the resulting threats to biodiversity and human livelihoods.

• The Arctic is warming at more than double the global average over the last two decades, leading to a dramatic decline in snow cover. Greenland's ice sheet lost approximately 247 gigatonnes of ice annually between 2012 and 2016, contributing roughly 0.7mm to sea level rise each year.
• Permafrost thaw in the northern hemisphere threatens to release massive amounts of carbon. If emissions are not reduced, between 30% and nearly all near-surface permafrost could be lost by 2100, potentially releasing tens or hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon.
• The global ocean has absorbed approximately 93% of the extra heat accumulated from climate change in recent decades. This has led to increased acidification and a decline in oxygen levels of more than 2% since the 1960s, with the most significant decreases occurring in the South Atlantic, Southern Ocean, and North Pacific.
• Sea levels are projected to rise by 74cm (range of 52 to 98cm) by the end of the 21st century if emissions are not cut, though big cuts could limit this to 44cm (28 to 61cm). Such rises threaten coastal megacities and may render some island nations uninhabitable.
• Mountain regions are warming up to twice as fast as the global average, causing a decline in snow and ice. While melting initially increases water runoff, this 'peak water' effect is short-lived; glacial water supplies are expected to decline through the 21st century in North America, South America, Asia, and Central Europe.
• Marine biodiversity is under severe pressure, with a projected 17% decline in marine life by the end of the century under business-as-usual emissions. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable, with a projected decline of up to 90% even if warming is limited to 1.5 degrees.
• Climate-driven changes are impacting global food security and economies. Maximum fish catch potential is predicted to decline by 16 to 25% by the end of the century if emissions continue, affecting the revenues of 89% of fishing countries by 2050.

APA

Team, Z. (2019). IPCC report on the ocean and cryosphere - Zero Carbon Analytics. Zero Carbon Analytics. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/science/ipcc-report-on-the-ocean-and-cryosphere/

Chicago

Team, ZCA. IPCC report on the ocean and cryosphere - Zero Carbon Analytics. Zero Carbon Analytics, 2019. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/science/ipcc-report-on-the-ocean-and-cryosphere/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=ZCA |title=IPCC report on the ocean and cryosphere - Zero Carbon Analytics |publisher=Zero Carbon Analytics |date=27 September 2019 |url=https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/science/ipcc-report-on-the-ocean-and-cryosphere/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2019ipcc, author = {Team, ZCA}, title = {{IPCC report on the ocean and cryosphere - Zero Carbon Analytics}}, institution = {Zero Carbon Analytics}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/science/ipcc-report-on-the-ocean-and-cryosphere/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }