The role of sustained ocean observations to the society and blue economy
Hermes, J.; Venkatesen, R.; Morris, T.; Heslop, E.; Narayanaswamy, V.; Aucan, J.; Malauene, B.S. (2022). The role of sustained ocean observations to the society and blue economy, in: Urban Jr., E.R. et al. Blue Economy: An ocean science perspective. pp. 417-465. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5065-0_14
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| Authors | | Top |
- Hermes, J.
- Venkatesen, R.
- Morris, T.
- Heslop, E.
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- Narayanaswamy, V.
- Aucan, J.
- Malauene, B.S.
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| Abstract |
The ocean’s contributions to humanity exceeds the products available from it, by absorbing more than 90% of the heat resulting from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The ocean plays a major role in the global cycles of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and other gases and rebalances the heat differential between poles and the equator, governing the climate to maintain life on our planet. The need to sustainably observe all areas of the ocean—as well as its unlimited potential for renewable ocean energy—are providing inspiration for new technological innovations. However, it is becoming more evident from recent scientific findings that ocean health is more at risk than previously thought, because different pressures add up and contribute to rapid and unpredictable changes in ocean ecosystems. With renewed, revitalized, and changing global scenarios and the United Nations declaring this decade as the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development, countries are moving up the ocean in their national policy agendas. Coastal countries, especially small island developing states, are advocating for socially equitable and environmentally sustainable growth. This will require systematic in-situ ocean data collection to understand today’s ocean and for forecasts, disaster risk reduction and early warning systems for coastal society and infrastructure and for the assessment and management of ocean resources. This chapter discusses in detail the need for and importance of ocean observations linked to the blue economy, using case studies to understand how under-resourced countries are facing the complex challenges of ocean observing. |
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