James Lovelock: Climate Change and the Oceans
 
"We humans are potentially a very valuable organism to have on the planet."
- James Lovelock
 
Our Oceans play a vital role in our climate
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
15th United Nations Climate Change Conference
7 - 18 December 2009
Visit the COP15 website.
Recently we interviewed James Lovelock a well-known climate scientist to get his views on climate change and the future of our oceans. James is best known for coming up with the Gaia theory and has written numerous books on the subject. While James proposes some solutions that could 'buy us some time' it is clear that we need to make drastic changes in order to keep our seas from becoming deserts with little or no life in them.

From December 7-18th the city of Copenhagen in Denmark is hosting the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which could prove pivotal for the management of carbon emissions. Here governmental, corporate and civil society representatives from 192 countries will discuss the impacts and causes of the world's changing climate, as well as potential solutions to the devastating consequences this may have for the environment and global community.

One of the most frequently
overlooked environments,
but amongst the most severely
affected, is our oceans. 

Water has an incredible capcity to retain heat, having already absorbed 90% of excess atmospheric heat caused by greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most apparent consequences of warmer oceans is the dramatically receding ice throughout the Arctic Ocean, which may prove ice-free in summer as soon as 2013. Warmer oceans also have the potential to significantly increase the occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, the formation of which is dependent on the sea surface temperature.
   Another concern is the possibility that increased sea temperatures may inhibit the growth of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton, in addition to being the primary producer for the majority of marine ecosystems, are a formidable carbon sink: assimilating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce energy via photosynthesis, they account for approximately half the photosynthetic activity of all plant life, and consequently half of atmospheric oxygen. Thus declining plankton could not only accelerate the accumulation of carbon dioxide, but severely limit the availability of breathable oxygen.

Carbon dioxide also dissolves in seawater to create carbonic acid, causing elevated atmospheric levels to have the subsequent effect of increasing seawater acidity. The concentration of hydrogen ions in surface waters is estimated to have increased by 30% since the early 1900's, with further rises potentially causing many types of marine life, such as corals, to literally dissolve as their shells and skeletons are corroded away by the acidity. Combined with the heightened stress from warmer water and more frequent bleaching events, it is believed that, as atmospheric carbon concentrations reach 450 parts per million, reefs will already be in terminal global decline. As such concentrations under 350 parts per million are thought to be of critical importance to the survival of coral reefs.

Although the causes and effects are still debated, it is apparent that there are dire consequences of climate change for our oceans and that immediate action is required.

Keep track of developments at the Copenhagen Climate Conference and what they mean for the future of carbon emissions and our oceans here.