Increase pH levels are cause of marine life extinction

It becomes clear through examining the history of past marine life extinctions that our oceans are once again headed towards a period of decline for various species. A study on past ocean extinctions, explained in Emily Shon’s article, concluded that past marine life extinctions were due to high levels of CO2 and low levels of oxygen. This is relevant to today’s oceans as there has been an  increase of CO2 in the oceans due to the release of fossil fuels and other sources into the atmosphere. Many species who produce calcium carbonate shells are unable to adapt to the quickly changing pH levels in the oceans. It is predicted that between 2030 and 2050 that we will see a decline in pteropods, an organism at the bottom of the food chain and so crucial to maintain its balance. With this being said, we need to look at our oceans’ histories in order to preserve them in the future.

North Pole renamed

Following some recent confusion surrounding whether various expeditions had reached a / the pole, an international tribunal was established to revise the naming conventions of the various poles. Digital Explorer has this sneak preview at some of their initial findings.

The tribunal has decided to focus on four points in the Arctic often called poles in Phase 1 of the Polar Taxonomy Initiative (PTI), namely: the Geographic North Pole, the Magnetic North Pole (current and 1996) and the North Pole of Inaccessibility. A wide consultation programme with both experts and members of the public has shaped the following proposals.

The Geographic North Pole (the point at the top of the globe) should be renamed the Pole of Public Speaking. We feel that this new name properly enforces the importance of this pole in the careers of many of our great adventurers.

The 1996 Magnetic North Pole (the point of focus of the magnetic field in the northern hemisphere in 1996) should be renamed the Pole of Convenience. We feel that this pole has been of great help to adventure racers, ‘ocean’ rowers and Top Gear presenters, and should be recognized as such.

The North Pole of Inaccessibility (the furthest point from land in the Arctic Ocean) should be renamed the Pole of Inconvenience. This new moniker reflects that this point lies a long way from anywhere with a warm bed and hot shower.

The Magnetic North Pole (the point of focus of the magnetic field in the northern hemisphere now) should be renamed the Pole of Perpetual Motion. Members of the panel are still searching for the pole, last seen somewhere near Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, and heading for Siberia at about 55-60 kilometres a year.

The Tribunal hopes that this new naming convention will help to save confusion in the future. All feedback is gratefully received.

We must protect not only what we understand

Marine protection is immensely important. Human society depends on the seas and the life in them being healthy for the fishing industry and so much more.

We are only beginning to understand these links and so we must protect not only what we understand.

I commend this plan for striking a good balance and note the important fact that the government now has a legal duty to protect our seas.

Interesting comment thrown up by Richard Black’s article on the latest bid to extend the marine protected areas around the UK from less than 1% to about 20%.

100 potential Marine Conservation Zones have been mapped out around the UK and will be officially designated as such, or not, within a year or so.

There is much work to do – but it can, and will, be done.

There is much more to oceans than fish.

There must be value before there is momentum to ‘protect,’ yet as the concerned member of the public mentions above, ‘we must protect not only what we understand.’

This is the challenge! Get out and about and explore the oceans!

So much to learn about the oceans from sand

Rob Holman has collected over 860 sand samples from around the world. See the differences from St. Andrews to Samoa for yourself on the interactive map.

Explore the Oceans with Sylvia Earle

Have fun exploring the oceans in 3D with Google Earth, narrated by the ever amazing Sylvia Earle.

We must always hold to the difficult

If only we arrange our life according
to that principle which counsels us
that we must always hold to the difficult,
then that which now still seems to us
the most alien will become what we
most trust and find most faithful.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

New ocean floor data in Google Oceans

From the Google Lat Long blog – exciting developments…

Only a tiny fraction of our oceans have ever been explored. As a matter of fact, we know more about the surfaces of Mars and the Moon than we do about our own ocean floor. So in honor of World Oceans Day, we collaborated with Columbia University to add more ocean seafloor terrain to Google Earth than has ever been available before. With the addition of Columbia’s Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis data, you can explore half the ocean area that has ever been mapped, an area larger than North America.

The endless immensity of the sea

If you want to build a ship don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Looking for an inspirational schools speaker?

Just weeks before Mark was due to set off on the next leg of his amazing 7 rivers, 7 continents project, he was forced to delay his departure having had a metal screw inserted into his clavicle. He is a great speaker and available to come to schools across the UK. See below for more information or get in touch with Mark directly.

Mark Kalch is a motivational and school speaker, explorer, adventurer and sponsored athlete. I undertake difficult, demanding and culturally significant expeditions across the globe. Most recently I walked solo across the entire Islamic Republic of Iran and have previously made a source to sea paddling descent of the entire Amazon River (please view a short clip here). I am currently pursuing the 7 rivers, 7 continents project – source to sea paddling descents of the longest river on each continent. A combined total of more than 22 000 miles of paddling. My journeys are developed, planned and executed alone or in small teams with no external assistance.

All presentations are tailored to suit a school’s requirements. If you require further information or clarification do not hesitate in your approach.

Past school quote:

Mark

I have talked to most of the sixth, first form and teachers, who attended yesterday. The response was entirely enthusiastic & positive (which is not always the case, even with our better speakers). Comments ranged from ‘absolutely brilliant’, all the way down(!) to ‘very interesting’. Thanks for what was clearly an exceptionally well delivered and fascinating talk which has made a great impression on all who attended.

Dr Anthony Langdon Kingston Grammar School

No Climate Change Education in our schools?

The debate around climate change in the science curriculum rages on in the press with a letter published in yesterday’s Guardian and signed by a number of educationalists.

This is response to the news that climate change is to be dropped from the national curriculum.

My immediate and emotive response to this is that the government has this wrong and must immediately change their policy and include climate change within the science curriculum.
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