Dr Bahareh Kamranzad, a Lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, has played a pivotal role in a major international study predicting how climate change will reshape the world’s coastal oceans by the end of the century.
Published in Progress in Oceanography, the research delivers vital forecasts on ocean temperature, salinity, currents, and sea level rise – crucial for protecting ecosystems, infrastructure and coastal communities globally.
The study assesses how climate change will alter ocean temperature, salinity, sea level and currents across the global coastal ocean – regions which host diverse ecosystems and are home to more than a third of the world’s population.
Significant warming
Using advanced climate models and high-resolution data, the study projects significant warming in coastal ocean regions by 2100 under high-emission scenarios, with associated changes in salinity and ocean dynamics. These transformations are expected to have profound consequences for biodiversity, fisheries, coastal communities and the wider climate system.
The work is part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development project Future Coastal Ocean Climates (FLAME), part of the CoastPredict programme. It draws on expertise from more than 40 leading institutions across four continents. Dr Kamranzad contributed expertise in ocean dynamics, coastal processes and climate modelling, helping to analyse key physical changes that will affect the resilience of coastal systems in the coming decades.
Dr Kamranzad said:
“Coastal regions are not only highly dynamic and diverse, but they also face increasing pressures from climate change, development and environmental degradation. This research offers vital insights into how coastal ocean conditions may evolve and what this means for ecosystems, coastal infrastructure and energy planning.”
“By understanding these projected changes, we can nbetter inform adaptation strategies, sustainable development, and the design of resilient coastal systems globally.”
Coastal changes
The study highlights how coastal areas are particularly vulnerable due to their shallow waters and proximity to land-based impacts, such as freshwater discharge and pollution. Changes in coastal ocean conditions could affect key industries such as fisheries and offshore energy, while also exacerbating risks such as sea-level rise and coastal erosion.
The research aligns with the University’s Centre for Sustainable Development, which integrates climate science, engineering and policy to support sustainable progress worldwide.