Historic Shipwrecks and the Impacts of Climate Change

This paper presents the results of a four-year research programme exploring the impacts of climate change on historic shipwrecks around the coast Wales. It explored the possibility of creating a network of ‘Sentinel Wrecks’, which would allow research of climate change impacts in relation to specific case studies to be taken forward through international collaboration. The identification of suitable Welsh sites has already begun through the creation of baseline surveys for 17 intertidal sites. 3D digital photogrammetry was used to record sites through annual cycles of uncovering and recovering in response to increasingly severe storm conditions. Analysis of ecological survey data for 52 underwater wreck sites has provide confirmation that several warmer water species are expanding their range northwards in response to rising sea temperatures. Whilst the biodiversity of Welsh shipwrecks has decreased by 7% in the past 30 years. These trends match findings for the wider natural environment of Wales. This study makes an important contribution, at a nation-wide scale, in reviewing the changes that are already taking place at shipwreck sites during the most critical decade of the climate emergency. The Additionally, it considers the potential of research and policy actions at an international scale that would safeguard underwater and intertidal shipwrecks into the future.