State of the Oceans — Log 79
YOUR WEEKLY BRIEFING FROM PARLEY
This image by Rick Miskiv, header image by Jorge Cervera
THE OCEANS
In the next decade, climate change could result in the abrupt collapse of ocean ecosystems across the planet. This stark finding comes from a new study published in Nature, which examined how temperature will affect over 30,000 terrestrial and aquatic species. This paper suggests that global heating could cause ecosystems to fail one after the next in rapid, wave-like succession – far sooner than scientists previously thought.
Despite these deeply troubling findings, the study’s authors emphasize that immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could make a “massive” difference. Limiting warming to 2ºC would prevent 60% of Earth’s species from experiencing sudden die-offs. An increasingly popular way to mitigate warming is to protect habitats that naturally store carbon, such as wetlands and mangroves. In fact, another new study published this week found that carbon conservation is necessary to solving the climate crisis.
CARBON EMISSIONS
Over the last fiscal year, Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.9% to their lowest level in over three decades. This drop marks the fifth consecutive year in which carbon pollution has declined in Japan, the world’s fifth-largest emitter. Experts attribute this trend to reduced heating (due to a milder winter), the growing renewable industry, and a return of nuclear power. Globally, carbon emissions are projected to drop by as much as 5% in 2020. Travel restrictions and economic stalls brought on by the coronavirus could lower worldwide emissions by 2.5 billions tons - the greatest fossil fuel reduction on record.
MARINE LIFE
During a deep-sea exploration of Western Australia’s underwater canyons, scientists discovered 30 new species and observed what might be the longest known animal ever recorded. Along with glass sponges and octopus squids, the crew encountered a 150 foot-long siphonophore – a jellyfish relative that is made up of many small clones. Awing the crew, the specimen was as long as three humpbacks, or two blue whales: “People came pouring into the control room to share the excitement,” said the expedition’s leader. “It was just amazing to see this huge organism hovering in the water.”
PLASTIC POLLUTION
Lawmakers in China have drafted a major proposal that would ban some of the most pervasive forms of plastic pollution. In addition to single-use cutlery and other non-biodegradable materials, this plan would restrict shopping bags with a thickness of 0.025 millimeters and plastic mulch additives with a thickness of 0.01 millimeters, the latter of which are used to retain moisture in agriculture. Followed by the U.S. and Germany, China is the world’s largest producer and mis-manager of plastic waste. The country’s much-needed proposal is open for public comment until April 19.
BIOMIMICRY
If a barn owl flew at your head, you would not hear a “whoosh” until it was three feet away. Even then, your ears would only pick up a fraction of the sound waves. Inspired by the stealth of owl flight, researchers aim to replicate the bird’s wings in the design of planes and wind turbines - which can create harmful noise pollution for both people and wildlife. As one turbine manufacturer said, “Over a certain frequency range, we saw a 10-decibel noise reduction. That may not sound like much, but in air acoustics, engineers fight over two or three decibels. That’s a massive change for any technology.”
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