Global Investigation Reveals True Scale of Ocean Warming
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ISSUE 12 | 2013 MI-NEWS www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine GLOBAL INVESTIGATION REVEALS TRUE SCALE OF OCEAN WARMING STATE-OF-THE-ART SONAR NEW BIO-IMAGING PTEROPOD FOSSIL SYSTEM COMES ON TECHNOLOGY PEERS RECORD SHOWS PAST BOARD AT PLYMOUTH INTO THE HEART OF IMPACT OF OCEAN UNIVERSITY EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT ACIDIFICATION CONTENTS 03 GLOBAL INVESTIGATION 08 STATE-OF-THE-ART SONAR REVEALS TRUE SCALE SYSTEM COMES ON OF OCEAN WARMING BOARD AT PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY 04 BRITAIN AND THE SEA 2 09 NEW RESEARCH OFFERS INSIGHT INTO MARINE 06 THE SEAMANSHIP CENTRE LIFE’S ABILITY TO ADAPT TO -DIVING AND MARINE OCEAN CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE AND SOON TO BE … THE ‘MARINE STATION’ 10 NEW BIO-IMAGING TECHNOLOGY PEERS 07 PTEROPOD FOSSIL INTO THE HEART OF RECORD SHOWS PAST EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION NEWS GLOBAL INVESTIGATION REVEALS TRUE SCALE OF OCEAN WARMING By Professor Camille Parmesan ([email protected]) Professor NMA Chair in Public Understanding of Marine Science & Human Health Marine Insitute One of the lead authors of the report, Professor Mike Burrows at SAMS said: Professor Camille Parmesan, National “Most of the effects we saw were as Marine Aquarium Chair in Public expected from changes in climate. So, Understanding of Oceans and Human most shifts in the distributions of, say, Health within Plymouth University’s fishes and corals, were towards the Marine Institute, said the study offered a poles, and most events in springtime, “very simple, but important message”. like spawning, were earlier.” Professor Parmesan said: “This is the Some of the most convincing evidence first comprehensive documentation that climate change is the primary driver of what is happening in our marine behind the observed changes could systems in relation to climate change. be found in footprints that showed, for What it reveals is that the changes example, opposing responses in warm- that are occurring on land are being water and cold-water species within a matched by the oceans. And far from community; and similar responses from being a buffer and displaying more discrete populations at the same range minor changes, what we’re seeing is a edge. far stronger response from the oceans.” Warming oceans are causing marine Dr Pippa Moore, Lecturer in Aquatic species to change breeding times and The research team assembled a large Biology from Aberystwyth University, shift homes with expected substantial database of 1,735 changes in marine life said: “Our research has shown that a consequences for the broader marine from the global peer-reviewed literature wide range of marine organisms, which landscape, according to a new global which helped them investigate impacts inhabit the intertidal to the deep-sea, study. of climate change. The team found that and are found from the poles to the 81% of changes were in a direction tropics, have responded to recent The three-year research project, funded consistent with climate change. climate change by changing their by the National Centre for Ecological distribution, phenology or demography. Analysis and Synthesis in California, has The evidence showed that the leading shown widespread systemic shifts in edge or ‘front line’ of some marine “These results highlight the urgent need measures such as distribution of species species, such as phytoplankton, for governments around the globe to and phenology – the timing of nature’s zooplankton and bony fish, is moving develop adaptive management plans to calendar – on a scale comparable to or towards the poles at the average rate of ensure the continued sustainability of greater than those observed on land. 72km per decade, which is considerably the world’s oceans and the goods and faster than the terrestrial average of services they provide to human society.” The report, Global imprint of climate 6km per decade – and this despite the change on marine life, will form part of fact that sea surface temperatures are the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate warming three times slower than land Change Assessment Report due for temperatures publication in 2014, and is published in this month’s Nature Climate Change. It They also found that spring phenology was undertaken by eminent scientists in the oceans had advanced by more at 17 institutions across the world, than four days, nearly twice the figure including the University of Queensland, for phenological advancement on land. Plymouth University, Aberystwyth The strength of response varied among University, and the Scottish Association species, but again, the research showed for Marine Science (SAMS). the greatest response in invertebrate zooplankton and larval bony fish, up to 11 days in advancement. 03 NEWS BRITAIN AND THE SEA 2 By Paul Wright ([email protected]), Associate Director Marine Institute A one-day conference organised and of Britain upon the Sea stating that the for all sectors including the global supported by the Maritime Foundation seas and oceans are of huge importance drivers of population growth, shift of and Plymouth University Marine Institute to Britain and it is lamentable that few economic power, pressure on resources exploring the importance of the sea on of the population understand how and environmental threats were also Britain’s wealth and prosperity. much they rely on the sea to provide considered. their daily needs. He applauded the The first ‘Britain and the Sea’ conference engagement of Plymouth University with Harry Bennett, Associate Professor in examined the identity and relationship the Maritime Foundation in their desire History at Plymouth University, surmised of Britain and the Sea. The concerns, to foster knowledge and interest in the that there is a disconnect between the which still exist, focused on the danger sea and oceans of which all human life public and Britain’s interests on the of Britain losing its identity as a maritime is part. He described the new informal sea. He suggested that knowledge of nation at the very time when the seas relationship as being apposite and maritime history is of value to bridge are becoming of increasing national the Symposium series ‘Britain and the the disconnect. Harry looked at the importance due to the opportunities Sea’ as having a value well beyond the lessons affirmed, lessons overlooked for economic exploitation, sustainable numbers attending. and lessons ignored in the recent transportation and inter-state rivalry. The celebrations of Battle of the Atlantic. He conference asked: How did we arrive at The first speaker Paul Wright undertook questioned the true nature of Britain’s this point, where are we now and where an overview of Britain’s maritime relationship with America, the need for should we go from here to ensure the interests, in which he considered state-of-the-art warships and how the maritime future of the UK? the strengths of the key maritime public consciousness is shaped with sectors, including ports, shipping, respect to maritime interests. In the Keynote speech Vice Admiral maritime business services, Royal Navy, The State of Britain’s Seas was the topic Sir Richard Ibbotson, retired Deputy fishing, offshore, subsea and marine pursued by Martin Attrill, Director of Commander Fleet, spoke of the reliance aggregates. The trends and challenges Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, 04 who compared the past plenteous of conflicts will dominate over counter Michael Roe looked at the Inadequacy supplies of fish with the comparatively insurgency operations. of Maritime Governance. He criticised meagre availability today. He claimed the failure of the international shipping that today’s problems of fishing were Commodore Jake Moores looked at the industry to think of a more effective created by the introduction of the issue of maritime training. He referred to system of governance. He suggested steam trawlers and the continuing the September 2013 edition of Seaways that the industry thinks in national terms development of technology. The key in which there is a definition of the rather considering matters on a global phrase ‘We’re trying harder to catch word simulation which uses phrases level. His presentation was illustrated fewer fish’ summed up the evidence including ‘can go anywhere’ … ‘provides with examples of failure taken from the which was presented. He called for experiential learning.’ As former Head maritime industry including its inability to effective management of the sea and its of Britannia Royal Naval College he establish a key skills base, failure of liner resources. considered the issues of training relating shipping and the conference system to the Royal Navy and the constraints and failure to establish a single EU Flag. A marine technologist working in imposed by budgets and the limited In conclusion he stated that at a time of renewables was how Steve Jermy number of future ships able to provide globalisation the state does not know described himself. As author of the training. The need for blended delivery how to act. He called for a wider role for book ‘Strategy in Action’ Steve spoke of training where replay can provide all stakeholders in the governance of on how military power is used. He feedback and reinforce actions is critical international shipping. discussed: ‘21st Century Campaign for the future. lessons,’ ‘Future Lessons of Maritime The final presentation was made by Insecurity’ and the ‘Future Character Andy Parkin of ‘Two Four’ demonstrated Commodore Richard Farrington on of Maritime Operations’. He covered three simulation and training packages the topic of Protection Capability. He and described the three “E”s which which provided potential for effective gave an overview of globalisation and govern political thinking, Economics and training. It was noted that ‘walk considered the key choke points where the role of increasing debt in Western through’ simulation of the ‘Astute’ class maritime security is needed to support economies, Environment and the need submarines reduces the familiarisation the free flow of world trade.