Bringing Ocean Climate Data to Life.
Dreamily gazing out to sea, splashing in the surf, floating in the gentle swell, the ocean is a calming presence, a beautiful playground, a place of treasured memories. Yet beneath our surface view, its deep slow churn draws down carbon dioxide and heat in gigantic quantities. It is at the heart of our warming planet, powerfully protecting us from faster climate change on land, but with serious and long-term consequences for the marine realm that are largely hidden from view.
The ocean has absorbed around a third of all carbon dioxide emissions from human activities, and almost all of the heat (93%) that these emissions have trapped. It is a vital player in our changing climate, but with devastating impacts. Across the world, ocean warming and acidification are the two greatest threats to marine life, yet these issues are not easy for most of us to see, so they seem too abstract to address.
In Otago, Scientists have been collecting a treasure trove of ocean climate data for almost 70 years, but for this data to have impact it needs to be shared in accessible ways. This project, ‘More to Sea’ is funded by a University of Otago Research Grant, and brings together community groups to explore ocean climate data collected locally, and to bring it to life.
For further information, contact project lead (Dr Cathy Cole): cathy.cole@otago.ac.nz