Plymouth scientists sign up to international declaration to
combat climate change
30th January 2009
A team of scientists from PML have added
their support to a call for measures to combat the threat of our
oceans becoming more acidic. The six scientists, all of whom are
working directly on researching how the increases in carbon dioxide
(CO2) is changing the chemistry of the seas, attended an
international conference last October, hosted and supported by HSH
Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The conference attracted scientists from across the globe to
discuss what has become known as ‘the other CO2
problem’.
The challenges posed by increased levels of CO2 in
Earth’s atmosphere, generated by human activities including burning
fossil fuels and cement manufacture, and their contribution to
climate change are widely known. Ocean acidification on the other
hand has crept up on us and threatens all life in the sea.
CO2 from such atmospheric emissions is absorbed at the
sea surface which is now 30% more acidic than before the industrial
revolution. The effect upon sea-life is likely to be significant,
decreasing the ability of many marine creatures to build shells or
skeletons, or to properly develop from the egg stage through to
adult. In turn this could impact the entire ocean food web and
seriously affect fish stocks threatening world fisheries.
The conference held over four days culminated in a ‘call to
arms’ from delegates, including the Plymouth team. Drs Carol Turley
and Steve Widdicombe helped to formulate the ‘Monaco Declaration’ which
calls for urgent plans to cut further CO2 emissions; and
improvements in communication between policy makers, scientists and
economists to ensure that Ocean Acidification is included at all
levels of discussion on future reductions in CO2
emissions . Underlying this was a further call to promote more
research into the challenges that Ocean Acidification will
bring.
Dr Carol Turley, who summarised the science behind climate
change for policy makers at the conference, commented: “We are now
in no doubt that Ocean Acidification is real and already altering
the sea’s chemistry; this will have far reaching effects. Now we
need urgently to answer the questions about just what the impacts
will be and what the risks are.”
“What we do know is that CO2 emissions have to be
reduced urgently and that Ocean Acidification has to treated as
seriously as its twin – Climate Change.
If this process is found to be significant in these waters, then
this will challenge existing models, budgets and predictions
concerned with coastal and shelf sea carbon and nitrogen cycling.
This will be of concern to all scientists who investigate marine
biogeochemical cycling and agencies with responsibilities in these
areas.