Abstract
A set of physical and social indicators relevant to each Mediterranean case study has been developed within the context of the CIRCE case studies integrating framework. This framework approach provides a systematic means of structuring indicator selection and helps to provide a scientific basis for the assessment of climate-related impacts and vulnerability. A detailed set of criteria was developed to select and refine indicators through an iterative process of review and consultation. Indicators represent key issues related to climate variability and change for each of the case-study locations. Seven key indicator themes are identified: climate and atmosphere; marine and coastal systems; terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity; freshwater systems; agriculture and forestry; human health and well being; and, the economy. A number of core indicators are common to all case studies (for identifying common/disparate trends), others are common across generic case studies (urban, rural, coastal), and some are case-study specific. Data and methodological challenges in the indicator assessment included: data availability and quality limitations; distinguishing impacts from vulnerabilities, and climate from non-climate influences; and, identifying thresholds and coping ranges. Despite these difficulties, the selected set of indicators proved a useful and accessible tool for monitoring trends and portraying key information to regional stakeholders.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Carter TR, Jones RN, Lu X, Bhadwal S, Conde C, Mearns LO, O’Neill BC, Rounsevell MDA, Zurek MB (2007) New assessment methods and the characterisation of future conditions. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 133–171
Criado-Aldeanueva F, Del Rio Vera J, Garcia-Lafuente J (2008) Steric and mass-induced Mediterranean sea level trends from 14 years of altimetry data. Glob Planet Chang 60(3–4):563–575. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.07.003
EEA-JRC-WHO (2008) Impacts of Europe’s changing climate – 2008 indicator-based assessment. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, 246 pp
El-Askary H, Farouk R, Ichoku C, Kafatos M (2009) Transport of dust and anthropogenic aerosols across Alexandria, Egypt. Annales Geophysicea 27(7):2869–2879. doi:10.5194/angeo-27-2869-2009
Erhard M, Minnen JV, Voigt T (2002) Proposed set of climate change state and impact indicators in Europe. Technical report no. XX, Prepared for ETC. on Air and Climate Change, European Environment Agency, Bad Homburg, 37 pp
Esty DC, Levy M, Srebotnjak T, de Sherbinin A (2005) 2005 Environmental sustainability index: benchmarking national environmental stewardship. Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, New Haven, 414 pp
Füssel H-M (2007) Adaptation planning for climate change: concepts, assessment approaches, and key lessons. Sustain Sci 2:265–275. doi:10.1007/s11625-007-0032-y
Hák T, Moldan B, Dahl AL (eds) (2007) Sustainability indicators. A scientific assessment. Island Press, Washington, DC, 448 pp
Hammond A, Adriaanse A, Rodenburg E, Bryant D, Woodward R (1995) Environmental indicators: a systematic approach to measuring and reporting on environmental policy performance in the context of sustainable development. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC, p 43
JNF (2002) Report on drought damage in forests of the southern district. Jewish National Fund, Gilat, Israel (in Hebrew)
Jones RN (2001) An environmental risk assessment/management framework for climate change impact assessments. Nat Hazard 23(2–3):197–230. doi:10.1023/A:1011148019213
Kenny GJ, Warrick RA, Campbell BD, Sims GC, Camilleri M, Jamieson PD, Mitchell ND, McPherson HG, Salinger MJ (2000) Investigating climate change impacts and thresholds: an application of the CLIMPACTS integrated assessment model for New Zealand agriculture. Clim Chang 46(1–2):91–113. doi:10.1023/A:1005576910408
Meze-Hausken E (2008) On the (im-)possibilities of defining human climate thresholds. Clim Chang 89(3–4):299–324. doi:10.1007/s10584-007-9392-7
Moriondo M, Good P, Durao R, Bindi M, Giannakopoulos C, Corte-Real J (2006) Potential impact of climate change on fire risk in the Mediterranean area. Clim Res 31:85–95. doi:10.3354/cr031085
Niemeijer D, de Groot RS (2008) A conceptual framework for selecting environmental indicator sets. Ecol Indic 8(1):14–25. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2006.11.012
OECD (1993) OECD core set of indicators for environmental performance reviews: a synthesis report by the group on the state of the environment no. 83. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Paris, 39 pp
OECD (2008) Key environmental indicators. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development Environment Directorate, Paris, 36 pp
Peterson TC, Manton MJ (2008) Monitoring changes in climate extremes: a tale of international collaboration. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 89(9):1266–1271. doi:10.1175/2008BAMS2501.1
Risbey JS, Kandlikar M (2007) Expressions of likelihood and confidence in the IPCC uncertainty assessment process. Clim Chang 85(1–2):19–31. doi:10.1007/s10584-007-9315-7
Smith JB, Schellnhuber H-J, Mirza MMQ, Fankhauser S, Leemans R, Erda L, Ogallo L, Pittock B, Richels R, Rosenzweig C, Safriel U, Tol RSJ, Weyant J, Yohe G et al (2001) Vulnerability to climate change and reasons for concern: a synthesis. In: McCarthy JJ, Canziani OF, Leary NA, Dokken DJ, White KS (eds) Climate change 2001: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the third assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 913–967
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Agnew, M.D. et al. (2013). Physical and Socio-economic Indicators. In: Navarra, A., Tubiana, L. (eds) Regional Assessment of Climate Change in the Mediterranean. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 52. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5769-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5769-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5768-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5769-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)