Abstract This paper discusses the impacts of Climate Change and anthropogenic activities on coastal lagoons in Ghana. Ghana’s coastal lagoons provide unique ecosystem services. However, they are highly fragile and vulnerable to natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Climate Change impacts, such as increased temperatures, sea-level rise, storm surge and increased precipitation are likely to have ecological damage to lagoon ecosystems as a result of erosion, submergence of lagoon barriers, flooding and drying of the surrounding wetlands. Field observation, Geographic Information System modeling were among the methodology applied. The paper identified that anthropogenic activities and Climate Change would combine to have a serious future impact on lagoon ecosystems. Particularly, increased rainfall-induced flooding from the hinterland may be very injurious to the lagoon ecosystem, since the flood water may carry not only nutrients but also various contaminants and solid plastic waste generated by human activities around lagoons catchment into the lagoon channels. Besides, due to the barriers across most lagoon inlets, such polluted runoff water may not be able to flush out to sea, thus impacting negatively on the water quality of the lagoons. The paper proposes some adaptation strategies and recommends the early implementation of Climate Change adaptation strategies, coastal lagoon management measures to prevent potential future destructive impacts.

中文翻译：

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气候变化对加纳人为污染的沿海泻湖影响的调查

摘要 本文讨论了气候变化和人为活动对加纳沿海泻湖的影响。加纳的沿海泻湖提供独特的生态系统服务。然而，它们非常脆弱，容易受到自然过程和人为活动的影响。气候变化的影响，如气温升高、海平面上升、风暴潮和降水增加，可能会由于侵蚀、泻湖屏障被淹没、周围湿地洪水和干燥而对泻湖生态系统造成生态破坏。实地观察、地理信息系统建模是所应用的方法之一。该论文指出，人为活动和气候变化将对泻湖生态系统产生严重的未来影响。特别，来自腹地的降雨引起的洪水增加可能对泻湖生态系统造成极大伤害，因为洪水不仅可能携带营养物质，而且可能将泻湖集水区周围人类活动产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物带入泻湖河道。此外，由于大部分泻湖入口都有障碍物，这些受污染的径流水可能无法冲入大海，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。论文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略、沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。因为洪水不仅会携带营养物质，还会将泻湖集水区周围人类活动产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物带入泻湖渠道。此外，由于大部分泻湖入口都有障碍物，这些受污染的径流水可能无法冲入大海，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。论文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略、沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。因为洪水不仅会携带营养物质，还会将泻湖集水区周围人类活动产生的各种污染物和固体塑料废物带入泻湖渠道。此外，由于大部分泻湖入口有障碍物，这些受污染的径流水可能无法冲入大海，从而对泻湖的水质产生负面影响。论文提出了一些适应策略，并建议尽早实施气候变化适应策略、沿海泻湖管理措施，以防止未来潜在的破坏性影响。