Climate effects from mountains to fjords

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Climate change poses a threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as well socio-economic interests related to vulnerable public sectors and resource-based industries. To study the integrated effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems and assess po ssible consequences and adaptive options for important social and economic sectors NIVA proposes a five-year Strategic Institute Initiative (SIS): Climate effects from mountains to fjords. The programme contains four major research themes (workpackages) r elated to climate change: 1) Effects on carbon/nitrogen cycling in natural ecosystems, 2) effects on runoff from agricultural/cultivated ecosystems, 3) effects on hydrophysical, biogeochemical and ecological conditions in fjords, and 4) assessments of soc ial impacts and evaluation of adaptation strategies. The programme will form an important strategic platform for NIVAs climate change research for the years to come, and at the same time provide a basis for the environmental authorities to perform knowle dge-based implementation of necessary and cost-effective adaptation measures.