Prior Climate Change Matrix
Drafted Indicator Matrix for climate change in the Gulf of Maine.
| Category | Indicator | Scientifically Valid | Responsive to Change | Cause and Effect Link | Accurate Data Available | Relevant to Users | Comparable Regionally | Useful at Different Scales | Comparable to Targets, Thresholds, or Standards |
Indicates a Condition (i.e. Not Just a Measurement) |
| Terrestrial Temperature Changes |
Average temperature change | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes ? |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
No |
| Trends in air temperature anomalies | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Lake and river ice | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
No |
Yes |
|
| Growing season | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Snowfall and days with snow on ground | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
No |
Yes |
|
| Keeping as an indicator is currently under discussion | Lilac bloom dates |
Yes ? |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Keeping as an indicator is currently under discussion | Yield of grapes |
Yes ? |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Timing of high spring flow | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Oceanic Temperature Changes |
Sea surface temperature | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Temperature of bottom waters | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
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| Trends in surface water temperature anomalies | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Trends in bottom water temperature anomalies | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Precipitation/Storm Changes | Precipitation trends | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Extreme precipitation events | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
| Specific wind threshold | ||||||||||
| Extreme wind events | ||||||||||
| Storm Events | ||||||||||
| Proportion of precipitation as snow | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Landfalling hurricanes | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
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| Oceanic Biological Changes | Planktonic diversity | |||||||||
| Warm versus cold water finfish diversity | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Marine disease indices (MSX, dermo, shell disease) | Yes |
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| Sea Level Changes and Effects | Relative sea level rise | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Wetlands extent, distribution, and composition | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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| Tidal and currents Changes | Changes in ocean currents or tides |