July 20, 2005 Heinz Center Business Council Hosts Landmark Oceans Briefing
Climate Change is having a major impact on the oceans which cover two-thirds of our planet, according to scientists at a Heinz Center briefing held at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. on July 20, 2005.
Hosted by the Heinz Center Business Council, the briefing featured Dr. Edward Miles, Bloedel Professor of Marine Studies and Public Affairs, University of Washington, and Heinz Center Trustee; Dr. Richard Feely, Director of NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; and Dr. Chris Langdon, Professor of Oceanography at the University of Miami.
In introducing the panelists, Thomas E. Lovejoy, President of the Heinz Center, said, “when I first heard this information I really considered it one of the most chilling environmental briefings I ever had.”
Increasingly oceanographers are sounding the alarm regarding the future health of the oceans, according to Dr. Edward Miles. “Ocean chemistry is being altered on a scale not seen for millions of years. There are very basic questions on the impact on ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles for which we simply do not yet have answers.”
Dr. Richard Feely said that even though the world scientific community has been studying the oceans for more than 30 years it “is just waking up to the serious problem that acidification presents.” Scientists have said that if current trends continue “our grandchildren will not see coral reefs anymore.” Feely explained that the oceans are currently taking up about 30 percent of the annual emissions of carbon dioxide.
Dr. Christopher Langdon warned that unless we get serious about reducing emissions to the atmosphere, “The changes that have occurred to date and into the future are going to be irreversible in our lifetime. Reducing emissions appears to be the only practical way to minimize the risk of large scale and long-term changes in the ocean,” he said, “we need to start facing up to this and putting this issue on the table.” Langdon noted that regions or ecosystems affected most by the impacts of increasing acidification are coral reefs and the ecosystems in the oceans of the southern hemisphere.
Dr. Langdon cited data from studies conducted at the Biosphere 2 facility that demonstrate the damaging effect of lower pH to the ocean ecosystems particularly on the calcification levels critical to coral and algae growth. Studies are ongoing to determine the implications of the loss of coral reefs on fisheries, biodiversity, and shorelines.
Note: To receive a CD-Rom with the briefing in its entirety, please contact Stacia VanDyne at vandyne@heinzctr.org.