DOCSLIB.ORG

The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb THE ARCHEOLOGY OF THE ATOMIC BOMB: A SUBMERGED CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT OF THE SUNKEN FLEET OF OPERATION CROSSROADS AT BIKINI AND KWAJALEIN ATOLL LAGOO NS REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS Prepared for: The Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government Council By: James P. Delgado Daniel J. Lenihan (Principal Investigator) Larry E. Murphy Illustrations by: Larry V. Nordby Jerry L. Livingston Submerged Cultural Resources Unit National Maritime Initiative United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Southwest Cultural Resources Center Professional Papers Number 37 -Santa Fe, New Mexico 1991 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . iii FOREWORD . vii Secretary of the Interior, Manuel Lujan, Jr. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................... ix CHAPTER ONE: Introduction . 1 Daniel J. Lenihan Project Mandate and Background . 1 Methodology . 4 Activities . 7 CHAPTER TWO: Operation Crossroads . 11 James P. Delgado The Concept of a Naval Test Evolves . 14 Preparing for the Tests . 18 The Able Test . 23 The Baker Test . 27 Decontamination Efforts . 29 The Legacy of Crossroads . 31 The 1947 Scientific Resurvey . 34 CHAPTER THREE: Ship's Histories for the Sunken Vessels 43 James P. Delgado USS Saratoga ............... .... ......................... 43 USS Arkansas . 52 HIJMS Nagato . 55 HIJMS Sakawa . 59 USS Prinz Eugen . 60 USS Anderson . 64 USS Lamson . 66 USS Apogon . 70 USS Pilotfish . 72 USS Gilliam . 73 USS Carlisle . 74 ARDC-13 ................................................. 76 Y0-160 .................................................. 76 LCT-414, 812, 1114, 1175, and 1237 . 77 CHAPTER FOUR: Site Descriptions . 85 James P. Delgado and Larry E. Murphy Introduction . 85 Reconstructing the Nuclear Detonations . 86 Site Descriptions: Vessels Lost During the Able Test . 90 USS Gilliam . 90 e USS Carlisle . 92 Site Descriptions: Vessels Lost During the Baker Test . 93 USS Arkansas . 93 USS Saratoga . 100 USS Pilotfish . 124 USS Apogon . 125 Y0-160 . 127 HIJMS Nagato . 128 LCT-1175 . 132 Site Descriptions: Vessels Lost After the Test . 134 USS Prinz Eugen . 134 Final Observations . 136 CHAPTER FIVE: The Significance of the Sunken Vessels of Operation Crossroads James P. Delgado . 143 Monuments and Memorials to the Dawn of the Atomic Age . 144 Insuring the Navy's Survival in the Age of the Bomb . 145 A Demonstration of Wealth and Power . 148 Crossroads as a Spectacle and Demonstration . 150 Learning to Live with the Bomb . 153 The Reality of the Bomb: Radioactive Fears . 154 Crossroads at the Bottom of the Sea . 157 Confronting the Atomic Age . 158 CHAPTER SIX: Nuclear Park Potential 163 Daniel J. Lenihan Precedent . 163 Park Appeal . 163 Park Protection . 165 Interpretive/Educational Devices . 166 Diving Safety/Liability . 168 Special Diving Hazards: Explosives, Radiation . 169 Environmental Hazards Posed by Ships . 170 Mooring Systems . 170 Conclusions and Recommendations . 170 APPENDIX I: Target Vessels at Bikini and Their Disposition 173 APPENDIX II: Relics of Operation Crossroads . 177 APPENDIX III: Estimates of Radiological Dose at Bikini (W. L. Robison, 1990) 179 APPENDIX IV: Archeological Site Record Forms for the Documented Shipwrecks . 189 BIBLIOGRAPHY 197 SUBMERGED CULTURAL RESOURCES UNIT REPORT AND PUBLICATION SERIES ............. 205 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS CHAPTER ONE Bikini Atoll, from a 1947 Navy Chart . xii Commander David McCampbell locates and plots the wreck locations . 3 The Navy's Explosive Ordnance Demolition Unit One safes a 350-lb. depth bomb . 3 Lengthy oxygen decompression stops were required . 5 Boat launching by front-end loader . 6 Daniel Lenihan, Larry Nordby and Jerry Livingston compare notes . 6 The Bikini Council's dive team takes measurements on Saratoga . 9 The system of trilateration used to map the wrecks is discussed . 10 CHAPTER TWO Target area at Bikini, 1946 . 11 Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, commander of Joint Task Force One 13 The Able Target Array, showing the actual point of detonation . 16 The Baker Target Array, showing the actual point of detonation . 17 A Mark III "Fat Man" bomb casing . 18 Press release chart depicting "scrap" costs of Operation Crossroads . 21 Two goats aboard USS Niagara . 22 Nevada, the target vessel for Able . 23 Journalists aboard LCT-52 inspect USS In dependence after Able . 24 Able's mushroom cloud towers over Bikini Atoll . 25 Able, from Bikini Island . 25 LSM-60 suspended the bomb detonated during Baker . 26 Baker blasts out of the lagoon after detonation . 27 Navy tug sprays down USS New York after Baker . 29 Decontamination efforts aboard Prinz Eugen . 30 Pennsylvania is scuttled off Kwajalein . 32 The Bikini Scientific Resurvey teams lands at Bikini, 1947 35 Divers prepare to descend on.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Navy Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program
    Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress Updated September 14, 2021 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R41129 Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program Summary The Navy’s Columbia (SSBN-826) class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new SSBNs to replace the Navy’s current force of 14 aging Ohio-class SSBNs. Since 2013, the Navy has consistently identified the Columbia-class program as the Navy’s top priority program. The Navy procured the first Columbia-class boat in FY2021 and wants to procure the second boat in the class in FY2024. The Navy’s proposed FY2022 budget requests $3,003.0 (i.e., $3.0 billion) in procurement funding for the first Columbia-class boat and $1,644.0 million (i.e., about $1.6 billion) in advance procurement (AP) funding for the second boat, for a combined FY2022 procurement and AP funding request of $4,647.0 million (i.e., about $4.6 billion). The Navy’s FY2022 budget submission estimates the procurement cost of the first Columbia- class boat at $15,030.5 million (i.e., about $15.0 billion) in then-year dollars, including $6,557.6 million (i.e., about $6.60 billion) in costs for plans, meaning (essentially) the detail design/nonrecurring engineering (DD/NRE) costs for the Columbia class. (It is a long-standing Navy budgetary practice to incorporate the DD/NRE costs for a new class of ship into the total procurement cost of the first ship in the class.) Excluding costs for plans, the estimated hands-on construction cost of the first ship is $8,473.0 million (i.e., about $8.5 billion).
    [Show full text]
  • Missing the Marine Forest for the Trees
    Vol. 612: 209–215, 2019 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published March 7 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12867 Mar Ecol Prog Ser OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS OPINION PIECE Missing the marine forest for the trees Thomas Wernberg1,2,*, Karen Filbee-Dexter1,3 1UWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia 2Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark 3Institute of Marine Research, 4817 His, Norway ABSTRACT: Seascapes dominated by large, structurally complex seaweeds are ubiquitous. These critical ecosystems are under increasing pressure from human activities, and conceiving success- ful management strategies to ensure their persistence and/or recovery is of paramount impor- tance. Currently, ecosystems dominated by large seaweeds are referred to as either ‘forests’ or ‘beds’. We demonstrate how this dual terminology is confusing, is used inconsistently, and reduces the efficiency of communication about the importance and perils of seaweed habitats. As a conse- quence, it undermines work to alleviate and mitigate their loss and impedes research on unifying principles in ecology. We conclude that there are clear benefits of simply using the more intuitive term ‘forest’ to describe all seascapes dominated by habitat-forming seaweeds. This is particularly true as researchers scramble to reconcile ecological functions and patterns of change across dis- parate regions and species to match the increasingly global scale of environmental forcing on these critical ecosystems. KEY WORDS: Seaweed · Terminology · Kelp · Macroalgae · Communication 1. TREES OF THE SEAS AND MARINE FORESTS can be described as ‘forests’. Some experts use this term sparingly, referring only to seaweeds that reach Seascapes dominated by large seaweeds are ubiq- the sea surface (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • The Making of an Atomic Bomb
    (Image: Courtesy of United States Government, public domain.) INTRODUCTORY ESSAY "DESTROYER OF WORLDS": THE MAKING OF AN ATOMIC BOMB At 5:29 a.m. (MST), the world’s first atomic bomb detonated in the New Mexican desert, releasing a level of destructive power unknown in the existence of humanity. Emitting as much energy as 21,000 tons of TNT and creating a fireball that measured roughly 2,000 feet in diameter, the first successful test of an atomic bomb, known as the Trinity Test, forever changed the history of the world. The road to Trinity may have begun before the start of World War II, but the war brought the creation of atomic weaponry to fruition. The harnessing of atomic energy may have come as a result of World War II, but it also helped bring the conflict to an end. How did humanity come to construct and wield such a devastating weapon? 1 | THE MANHATTAN PROJECT Models of Fat Man and Little Boy on display at the Bradbury Science Museum. (Image: Courtesy of Los Alamos National Laboratory.) WE WAITED UNTIL THE BLAST HAD PASSED, WALKED OUT OF THE SHELTER AND THEN IT WAS ENTIRELY SOLEMN. WE KNEW THE WORLD WOULD NOT BE THE SAME. A FEW PEOPLE LAUGHED, A FEW PEOPLE CRIED. MOST PEOPLE WERE SILENT. J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER EARLY NUCLEAR RESEARCH GERMAN DISCOVERY OF FISSION Achieving the monumental goal of splitting the nucleus The 1930s saw further development in the field. Hungarian- of an atom, known as nuclear fission, came through the German physicist Leo Szilard conceived the possibility of self- development of scientific discoveries that stretched over several sustaining nuclear fission reactions, or a nuclear chain reaction, centuries.
    [Show full text]
  • Richard G. Hewlett and Jack M. Holl. Atoms
    ATOMS PEACE WAR Eisenhower and the Atomic Energy Commission Richard G. Hewlett and lack M. Roll With a Foreword by Richard S. Kirkendall and an Essay on Sources by Roger M. Anders University of California Press Berkeley Los Angeles London Published 1989 by the University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England Prepared by the Atomic Energy Commission; work made for hire. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hewlett, Richard G. Atoms for peace and war, 1953-1961. (California studies in the history of science) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Nuclear energy—United States—History. 2. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission—History. 3. Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. 4. United States—Politics and government-1953-1961. I. Holl, Jack M. II. Title. III. Series. QC792. 7. H48 1989 333.79'24'0973 88-29578 ISBN 0-520-06018-0 (alk. paper) Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CONTENTS List of Illustrations vii List of Figures and Tables ix Foreword by Richard S. Kirkendall xi Preface xix Acknowledgements xxvii 1. A Secret Mission 1 2. The Eisenhower Imprint 17 3. The President and the Bomb 34 4. The Oppenheimer Case 73 5. The Political Arena 113 6. Nuclear Weapons: A New Reality 144 7. Nuclear Power for the Marketplace 183 8. Atoms for Peace: Building American Policy 209 9. Pursuit of the Peaceful Atom 238 10. The Seeds of Anxiety 271 11. Safeguards, EURATOM, and the International Agency 305 12.
    [Show full text]
  • Alaska Regional Directors Offices Director Email Address Contact Numbers Supt
    Alaska Regional Directors Offices Director Email Address Contact Numbers Supt. Phone Fax Code ABLI RegionType Unit U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Alaska Region (FWS) HASKETT,GEOFFREY [email protected] 1011 East Tudor Road Phone: 907‐ 786‐3309 Anchorage, AK 99503 Fax: 907‐ 786‐3495 Naitonal Park Service(NPS) Alaska Region (NPS) MASICA,SUE [email protected] 240 West 5th Avenue,Suite 114 Phone:907‐644‐3510 Anchoorage,AK 99501 Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA) Alaska Region (BIA) VIRDEN,EUGENE [email protected] Bureau of Indian Affairs Phone: 907‐586‐7177 PO Box 25520 Telefax: 907‐586‐7252 709 West 9th Street Juneau, AK 99802 Anchorage Agency Phone: 1‐800‐645‐8465 Bureau of Indian Affairs Telefax:907 271‐4477 3601 C Street Suite 1100 Anchorage, AK 99503‐5947 Telephone: 1‐800‐645‐8465 Bureau of Land Manangement (BLM) Alaska State Office (BLM) CRIBLEY,BUD [email protected] Alaska State Office Phone: 907‐271‐5960 222 W 7th Avenue #13 FAX: 907‐271‐3684 Anchorage, AK 99513 United States Geological Survey(USGS) Alaska Area (USGS) BARTELS,LESLIE lholland‐[email protected] 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508‐4626 Phone:907‐786‐7055 Fax: 907‐ 786‐7040 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management(BOEM) Alaska Region (BOEM) KENDALL,JAMES [email protected] 3801 Centerpoint Drive Phone: 907‐ 334‐5208 Suite 500 Anchorage, AK 99503 Ralph Moore [email protected] c/o Katmai NP&P (907) 246‐2116 ANIA ANTI AKR NPRES ANIAKCHAK P.O. Box 7 King Salmon, AK 99613 (907) 246‐3305 (907) 246‐2120 Jeanette Pomrenke [email protected] P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Army Garrison- Kwajalein Atoll Information Handbook
    United States Army Garrison- Kwajalein Atoll Information Handbook Produced by DYNCORP INTERNATIONAL LLC Last updated: 4 September 2019 U.S. ARMY GARRISON KWAJALEIN ATOLL/ REAGAN TEST SITE U.S. ARMY INSTALLATION MANAGEMENT COMMAND KWAJALEIN ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS I. INSTALLATION DATA Name of Site: The installation is currently called “United States Army Garrison - Kwajalein Atoll/ Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site” (USAG-KA/RTS) effective 01 October 2013. The installation has undergone multiple name changes since its inception: U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/ Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (USAKA/RTS) from 15 June 2001 to 01 October 2013; U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/ Kwajalein Missile Range (USAKA/KMR) from 01 March 1998 to 15 June 2001; U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) from 14 November 1986 to 30 September 1997; Kwajalein Missile Range (KMR) from 15 April 1968 to 13 November 1986; Kwajalein Test Site from 1 July 1964 to 14 April 1968. Between 1945 and 30 June 1964, while under the command of the United States Navy, the installation was referred to at various times as the Navy Operating Base Kwajalein, Naval Air Station Kwajalein, Naval Station Kwajalein and Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Kwajalein. Site Number: NQ100 [for Military Real Property Inventory purposes, assigned by the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers per paragraph 2.2.1 (3) of AR 405-45] U.S. Mail Address: PSC 701-PO Box 26, APO AP 96555-0001 Status: USAG-KA/RTS is a Class II site (Active) of the United States Army and is designated a subordinate activity of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Report Japanese Submarine 1124
    REPORT JAPANESE SUBMARINE 1124 Mike McCarthy Maritime Archaeology Department WAMaritime Museum Cliff Street, Fremantle, WA 6160 October 1990 With research, advice and technical assistance from Captain David Tomlinson Or David Ramm Or J. Fabris Or Thomas O. Paine Mr Garrick Gray Mr George G. Thompson Mr Henri Bourse Mr J. Bastian Mr P.J. Washington RACAL The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories Underwater Systems Australia Report-Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum, No. 43 2 Background to the report In July 1988, a wreck believed to be the SS Koombanah, which disappeared with all hands in waters off Western Australia in 1921, was officially reported to the W. A. Museum and the federal government by Captain David Tomlinson, (Master/owner of the Darwin based Research Vessel Flamingo Bay) and Mr Mike Barron, a Tasmanian associate of Tomlinson's, fr;om the Commonwealth Fisheries. In order to facilitate an inspection of the site, it was decided on analysis of the available options and in the light of the W.A. Museum's policy of involving the finders where possible, to join with Messrs Tomlinson and Barron in an inspection out of Darwin on board the RV Flamingo Bay, a very well equipped and most suitable vessel for such a venture. Due to the depth of the water in which the site lay and the distance off­ shore, this required not only the charter of Flamingo Bay which normally runs at circa $2000 per day, but also the hire of a sophisticated position fixing system, a Remote Operated Submersible Vehicle with camera (ROV), echo sounder and side scan sonar.
    [Show full text]
  • JP 3-33, Joint Task Force Headquarters
    Joint Publication 3-33 Joint Task Force Headquarters 30 July 2012 PREFACE 1. Scope This publication provides joint doctrine for the formation and employment of a joint task force (JTF) headquarters to command and control joint operations. It provides guidance on the JTF headquarters’ role in planning, preparing, executing, and assessing JTF operations. 2. Purpose This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for US military coordination with other US Government departments and agencies during operations and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective. 3. Application a. Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the Joint Staff, commanders of combatant commands, subunified commands, joint task forces, subordinate components of these commands, the Services, and combat support agencies. b. The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise.
    [Show full text]
  • Suez 1956 24 Planning the Intervention 26 During the Intervention 35 After the Intervention 43 Musketeer Learning 55
    Learning from the History of British Interventions in the Middle East 55842_Kettle.indd842_Kettle.indd i 006/09/186/09/18 111:371:37 AAMM 55842_Kettle.indd842_Kettle.indd iiii 006/09/186/09/18 111:371:37 AAMM Learning from the History of British Interventions in the Middle East Louise Kettle 55842_Kettle.indd842_Kettle.indd iiiiii 006/09/186/09/18 111:371:37 AAMM Edinburgh University Press is one of the leading university presses in the UK. We publish academic books and journals in our selected subject areas across the humanities and social sciences, combining cutting-edge scholarship with high editorial and production values to produce academic works of lasting importance. For more information visit our website: edinburghuniversitypress.com © Louise Kettle, 2018 Edinburgh University Press Ltd The Tun – Holyrood Road, 12(2f) Jackson’s Entry, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ Typeset in 11/1 3 Adobe Sabon by IDSUK (DataConnection) Ltd, and printed and bound in Great Britain. A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 1 4744 3795 0 (hardback) ISBN 978 1 4744 3797 4 (webready PDF) ISBN 978 1 4744 3798 1 (epub) The right of Louise Kettle to be identifi ed as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, and the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI No. 2498). 55842_Kettle.indd842_Kettle.indd iivv 006/09/186/09/18 111:371:37 AAMM Contents Acknowledgements vii 1. Learning from History 1 Learning from History in Whitehall 3 Politicians Learning from History 8 Learning from the History of Military Interventions 9 How Do We Learn? 13 What is Learning from History? 15 Who Learns from History? 16 The Learning Process 18 Learning from the History of British Interventions in the Middle East 21 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Quarterly Reporter - April 2011 South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology--University of South Carolina
    University of South Carolina Scholar Commons Sport Diver Newsletters Maritime Research Division 4-2011 Quarterly Reporter - April 2011 South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology--University of South Carolina Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/mrd_sdnl Part of the Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation University of South Carolina, "Maritime Research Division, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology - Quarterly Reporter, Volume 2/Issue 1, April 2011". http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/mrd_sdnl/5/ This Newsletter is brought to you by the Maritime Research Division at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sport Diver Newsletters by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. April 2011 Volume 2, Issue 1 Quarterly Reporter Things You Need “Helping to preserve and protect South Carolina’s maritime heritage through research, education, and public outreach.” to Know: • 2011 Quarter 1 NEW! E-Artifact Report Submission System Reports Due April 10, 2011 By SDAMP We are very excited to Hobby License number. when it starts out. If • NEW E-Form announce that the new Once logged in you will you encounter any Available Online and improved artifact need to change your trouble, please contact online submission form password to a secure us and let us know. • Allendale Project will be available April one of your choice. Additionally, there are Sign-Up 11, 2011, to accept Once you have some aspects of the submissions of your completed this, you will system that are still • Artifact Identification artifact reports! Yes, be able to submit your under construction, so Workshop June we will allow you 1 day reports.
    [Show full text]
  • March 21–25, 2016
    FORTY-SEVENTH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS MARCH 21–25, 2016 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Universities Space Research Association Lunar and Planetary Institute National Aeronautics and Space Administration CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute Eileen Stansbery, NASA Johnson Space Center PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS David Draper, NASA Johnson Space Center Walter Kiefer, Lunar and Planetary Institute PROGRAM COMMITTEE P. Doug Archer, NASA Johnson Space Center Nicolas LeCorvec, Lunar and Planetary Institute Katherine Bermingham, University of Maryland Yo Matsubara, Smithsonian Institute Janice Bishop, SETI and NASA Ames Research Center Francis McCubbin, NASA Johnson Space Center Jeremy Boyce, University of California, Los Angeles Andrew Needham, Carnegie Institution of Washington Lisa Danielson, NASA Johnson Space Center Lan-Anh Nguyen, NASA Johnson Space Center Deepak Dhingra, University of Idaho Paul Niles, NASA Johnson Space Center Stephen Elardo, Carnegie Institution of Washington Dorothy Oehler, NASA Johnson Space Center Marc Fries, NASA Johnson Space Center D. Alex Patthoff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cyrena Goodrich, Lunar and Planetary Institute Elizabeth Rampe, Aerodyne Industries, Jacobs JETS at John Gruener, NASA Johnson Space Center NASA Johnson Space Center Justin Hagerty, U.S. Geological Survey Carol Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lindsay Hays, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Paul Schenk,
    [Show full text]
  • S41598-020-69258-7.Pdf
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Substantial blue carbon in overlooked Australian kelp forests Karen Filbee‑Dexter1,2 & Thomas Wernberg1,2,3* Recognition of the potential for vegetated coastal ecosystems to store and sequester carbon has led to their increasing inclusion into global carbon budgets and carbon ofset schemes. However, kelp forests have been overlooked in evaluations of this ‘blue carbon’, which have been limited to tidal marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds. We determined the continental-scale contribution to blue carbon from kelp forests in Australia using areal extent, biomass, and productivity measures from across the entire Great Southern Reef. We reveal that these kelp forests represent 10.3–22.7 Tg C and contribute 1.3–2.8 Tg C year−1 in sequestered production, amounting to more than 30% of total blue carbon stored and sequestered around the Australian continent, and ~ 3% of the total global blue carbon. We conclude that the omission of kelp forests from blue carbon assessments signifcantly underestimates the carbon storage and sequestration potential from vegetated coastal ecosystems globally. Te rapidly changing climate provides a strong impetus to uncover sinks in the global carbon cycle, in order to identify possible ways to mitigate current carbon emissions1,2. Vegetated coastal ecosystems store and sequester large amounts of organic carbon globally3–5, and this recognition has recently led to their recent inclusion into global carbon budgets and carbon ofset schemes6. Current accounting for this ‘blue carbon’ is restricted to veg- etation in accreting coastal ecosystems, such as tidal marshes, mangrove forests, and seagrass beds, which have high internal carbon burial rates and accumulate carbon in their soils and sediments.
    [Show full text]