Do you agree with the groupings, or should the indicators be grouped differently? Are there indicators missing? If so, which group should they be in?

Not sure how spatially applicable phenology of lilacs and yields of grapes will be as indicators.

Indicators related to average/extreme wind speeds as well as storm events would also be useful.

Regards,
Al Hanson

I am wondering if there are other oceanographic changes that should be considered, for example are we seeing changes is ocean currents or tides, and if so what are the potential impact. Are we able to measure such things? I am thinking they could influence surface and bottom temperatures so may go under that category. Could changes in tides or currents affect nutrient distribution/flow?

I agree that the spatial relevance is questionable. There are clearly other factors that determine timing of these items rather than just temperature or precipitation changes. However in specific locations, assuming these other factors (agricultural practices, for example) are equal, they could be good indicators of floral change. Some challenges lie ahead in order to properly determine these changes in a projection mode.

Regarding wind and storm events, these also present a challenge in the projection mode. Wind can be a critical element in determining impacts along coastal regions, and not just the obvious direct impact on infrastructure but also related impacts regarding floral and fauna.

Both these items could be added, but like temperature, do we track a specific wind threshold or frequency of occurence? Is that enough of a value to treat it as an indicator?

For 3 years, I have been making digital photographs of some 75 sites I deem to be sensitive to shoreline erosion. By establishing a visual baseline, I am ready when the next storm surge reaches higher than before and causes significant changes. In future, I will incorporate a linear scale in the images when feasible. The types of things I look for are exposed banks/bluffs, eroding soils (often supporting Spartina species), exposed roots, and L-shaped trees that took root when soil and fresh water were present, but have become dependent on a single root extending toward a receeding bank (sometimes reaching 9 or 10 feet).

I suggest setting up a web page where photos illustrating significant erosion around the gulf could be posted. I would also propose including such a record under the last category in the matrix, Sea Level Changes and Effects.

Question: I haven't figured out how to upload such photos to this Website; Is that doable? If so, how would I go about it?

Steve's photos have now been added into a new folder for this subcommittee.
Best,
Christine

One of the highest tides of 2007 will occur November 25. Could we sponsor and coordinate an international digital photography event on that day to record shoreline images at high tide around the Gulf of Maine? Subjects might include eroding banks and bluffs, boulders washing from such banks, tideline trees deprived of soil, retaining walls, and so on. This might be a powerful tool for both informing and involving the public.

When I first drafted the responses for each of the boxes in the matrix, I arbitrarily decided to simplify the process and treat each box as a yes (Y), no (no) or N/A not applicable. This may be too much of a simplification for some of these indicators. Also I didn't put anything in a number of boxes since I don't believe I have the knowledge or expertise to respond.

This means that more info may be required in each box and that more expertise, especially on the biologically based indicators, needs to be applied.

Having said that I do believe we can narrow down the list to the top 2-3 indicators by applying this process.