Climate Change

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Vertical climate stripes transitioning from blue to red, illustrating the progression of global warming and rising ocean temperatures over time.

Climate change poses an existential threat to coastal communities and ocean ecosystems as we know them. In the context of a warmer world, the past is no longer a reliable indicator of the future. As waters rapidly warm, acidify, and rise, the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the people who depend on it are at risk.

To solve these challenges, we're asking questions like:

  • How can we help prepare coastal communities to adapt and thrive in a warmer world?

  • What tools do our children and grandchildren need to tackle tomorrow's climate challenges?

  • Where will fish populations shift as the ecosystem changes, and what does that mean for how we manage and harvest those species?

  • How can we downscale global and national climate expertise to develop local, community-driven climate solutions?

Climate Science & Impact

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Sea level rise is exacerbating the impacts of coastal storms and rapidly increasing the frequency of high tide flooding, threatening coastlines and intertidal ecosystems. More frequent heavy precipitation events are also causing widespread and costly damage to infrastructure and the environment. Recently, over four weeks in December 2023 and January 2024, three storms drove record-breaking inland and coastal flooding and unprecedented damage to Maine communities, including an estimated $90 million in damage to public infrastructure.

Our research team advances our scientific understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change in our region. These internationally-recognized climate scientists monitor current climate impacts and project future impacts to support community planning efforts. Their global networks allow them to extend our impact beyond the Gulf of Maine.

We then translate this scientific understanding into climate action in partnership with communities that hold deep localized knowledge, transmitted through generations. These communities count on us for "K-to-Gray" climate education programming, support for rural municipalities, science-based tools, and other resources that create climate resilience.

Dive Deeper

The Gulf of Maine is warming rapidly — but how rapidly, and why? Explore our annual Gulf of Maine Warming Update for a scientific exploration of recent warming conditions.

Annual Warming Report

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