I’m a scientist I work with data I conduct experiments and sometimes you’ll
conduct experiments and sometimes you’ll
conduct experiments and sometimes you’ll even find me wearing a lab coat just so
even find me wearing a lab coat just so
even find me wearing a lab coat just so you know fully conform to that
you know fully conform to that
you know fully conform to that stereotype but science hasn’t always
stereotype but science hasn’t always
stereotype but science hasn’t always been my only interest when I was young I
been my only interest when I was young I
been my only interest when I was young I fancied myself as a bit of an artist now
fancied myself as a bit of an artist now
fancied myself as a bit of an artist now you can probably tell by the fact that
you can probably tell by the fact that
you can probably tell by the fact that I’m here talking about being a scientist
I’m here talking about being a scientist
I’m here talking about being a scientist that I wasn’t a very good artist but I
that I wasn’t a very good artist but I
that I wasn’t a very good artist but I really did like to try and one of the
really did like to try and one of the
really did like to try and one of the things that I used to use was these kids
things that I used to use was these kids
things that I used to use was these kids called painting by numbers I’m sure some
called painting by numbers I’m sure some
called painting by numbers I’m sure some of you probably have used them as well
of you probably have used them as well
of you probably have used them as well you get a black-and-white page full of
you get a black-and-white page full of
you get a black-and-white page full of patterns and each of the sections has a
patterns and each of the sections has a
patterns and each of the sections has a different number and those numbers
different number and those numbers
different number and those numbers correspond to colored paint and then you
correspond to colored paint and then you
correspond to colored paint and then you have to match them up and by this
have to match them up and by this
have to match them up and by this process you can learn to create shades
process you can learn to create shades
process you can learn to create shades textures different patterns and you can
textures different patterns and you can
textures different patterns and you can see a lovely example of that behind me
see a lovely example of that behind me
see a lovely example of that behind me this isn’t what I did but this is the
this isn’t what I did but this is the
this isn’t what I did but this is the ocean painted by numbers now I’m hoping
ocean painted by numbers now I’m hoping
ocean painted by numbers now I’m hoping you’re going to see a bit of a
you’re going to see a bit of a
you’re going to see a bit of a similarity between that picture and this
similarity between that picture and this
similarity between that picture and this one behind me now but this is not a
one behind me now but this is not a
one behind me now but this is not a painting this is a picture that’s rooted
painting this is a picture that’s rooted
painting this is a picture that’s rooted very much in science and this is
very much in science and this is
very much in science and this is satellite ocean color you can see the
satellite ocean color you can see the
satellite ocean color you can see the ocean is not maybe the typical blue you
ocean is not maybe the typical blue you
ocean is not maybe the typical blue you might think it is in fact it’s a
might think it is in fact it’s a
might think it is in fact it’s a masterpiece of colors even when you move
masterpiece of colors even when you move
masterpiece of colors even when you move away from the coastlines we’re used to
away from the coastlines we’re used to
away from the coastlines we’re used to seeing you can see over vast waves of
seeing you can see over vast waves of
seeing you can see over vast waves of the ocean paintbrush strokes of green
the ocean paintbrush strokes of green
the ocean paintbrush strokes of green different shades of blue
different shades of blue
different shades of blue even white in there as well and this is
even white in there as well and this is
even white in there as well and this is all information you can see here swirls
all information you can see here swirls
all information you can see here swirls this can tell us information about how
this can tell us information about how
this can tell us information about how the ocean works and these are the sorts
the ocean works and these are the sorts
the ocean works and these are the sorts of paintings that myself and colleagues
of paintings that myself and colleagues
of paintings that myself and colleagues in this field create today now like me
in this field create today now like me
in this field create today now like me you might be asking yourself what is
you might be asking yourself what is
you might be asking yourself what is creating those colors and I’d ask you to
creating those colors and I’d ask you to
creating those colors and I’d ask you to think a little bit about somewhere
think a little bit about somewhere
think a little bit about somewhere closer to where we understand where we
closer to where we understand where we
closer to where we understand where we live think about the land if you think
live think about the land if you think
live think about the land if you think about the green land you think of plants
about the green land you think of plants
about the green land you think of plants you might think of savanna grassland you
you might think of savanna grassland you
you might think of savanna grassland you might think
might think
might think of rainforests you might think of
of rainforests you might think of
of rainforests you might think of beautiful wildflower meadows and I’m
beautiful wildflower meadows and I’m
beautiful wildflower meadows and I’m here to tell you that the ocean has its
here to tell you that the ocean has its
here to tell you that the ocean has its equivalents of these great ecosystems
equivalents of these great ecosystems
equivalents of these great ecosystems that we see on land and most of them are
that we see on land and most of them are
that we see on land and most of them are down to these guys that you can see
down to these guys that you can see
down to these guys that you can see behind me these are phytoplankton these
behind me these are phytoplankton these
behind me these are phytoplankton these are ancient relatives of the plants that
are ancient relatives of the plants that
are ancient relatives of the plants that we see on land today and they live in
we see on land today and they live in
we see on land today and they live in every drop of seawater they contain the
every drop of seawater they contain the
every drop of seawater they contain the pigment chlorophyll just like the plants
pigment chlorophyll just like the plants
pigment chlorophyll just like the plants on land and that’s what makes them green
on land and that’s what makes them green
on land and that’s what makes them green now a scientist you know probably a bit
now a scientist you know probably a bit
now a scientist you know probably a bit better than you know me observed that
better than you know me observed that
better than you know me observed that these creatures
these creatures
these creatures although tiny are absolutely exquisite
although tiny are absolutely exquisite
although tiny are absolutely exquisite and diverse they have different shapes
and diverse they have different shapes
and diverse they have different shapes different patterns different colors and
different patterns different colors and
different patterns different colors and it’s these characteristics that change
it’s these characteristics that change
it’s these characteristics that change the ocean color and we can get
the ocean color and we can get
the ocean color and we can get information about these creatures and
information about these creatures and
information about these creatures and about those characteristics from it so I
about those characteristics from it so I
about those characteristics from it so I want to tell you three stories about
want to tell you three stories about
want to tell you three stories about using ocean color and I’m going to start
using ocean color and I’m going to start
using ocean color and I’m going to start with one that is literally very close to
with one that is literally very close to
with one that is literally very close to home for me behind you’ll see a picture
home for me behind you’ll see a picture
home for me behind you’ll see a picture satellite picture of the southwest of
satellite picture of the southwest of
satellite picture of the southwest of the UK and there’s a city there called
the UK and there’s a city there called
the UK and there’s a city there called Plymouth that’s where I was born it’s
Plymouth that’s where I was born it’s
Plymouth that’s where I was born it’s where I work today but I don’t think
where I work today but I don’t think
where I work today but I don’t think Plymouth is probably the first thing you
Plymouth is probably the first thing you
Plymouth is probably the first thing you notice about this picture probably
notice about this picture probably
notice about this picture probably notice those giant white cloud looking
notice those giant white cloud looking
notice those giant white cloud looking things yeah well they’re not clouds at
things yeah well they’re not clouds at
things yeah well they’re not clouds at least not in the traditional sense what
least not in the traditional sense what
least not in the traditional sense what they are is clouds of tiny white armored
they are is clouds of tiny white armored
they are is clouds of tiny white armored warriors that have been waging a war
warriors that have been waging a war
warriors that have been waging a war against carbon dioxide for millennia
against carbon dioxide for millennia
against carbon dioxide for millennia they’re called ELISA fours and they
they’re called ELISA fours and they
they’re called ELISA fours and they make little shells of calcium carbonate
make little shells of calcium carbonate
make little shells of calcium carbonate this is the material and them and
this is the material and them and
this is the material and them and relatives of theirs make up the cliffs
relatives of theirs make up the cliffs
relatives of theirs make up the cliffs of Dover they’re what makes them white
of Dover they’re what makes them white
of Dover they’re what makes them white they were probably in the chalk that
they were probably in the chalk that
they were probably in the chalk that your teachers have used on blackboards
your teachers have used on blackboards
your teachers have used on blackboards when you were growing up they’re
when you were growing up they’re
when you were growing up they’re incredible little creatures beautiful to
incredible little creatures beautiful to
incredible little creatures beautiful to look at but none of this is the reason
look at but none of this is the reason
look at but none of this is the reason why I call them warriors they’re part of
why I call them warriors they’re part of
why I call them warriors they’re part of a large-scale system in the ocean called
a large-scale system in the ocean called
a large-scale system in the ocean called the carbon buffer and you may have heard
the carbon buffer and you may have heard
the carbon buffer and you may have heard of ocean acidification where carbon
of ocean acidification where carbon
of ocean acidification where carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is resulting
dioxide in the atmosphere is resulting
dioxide in the atmosphere is resulting in acidifying oceans and these creatures
in acidifying oceans and these creatures
in acidifying oceans and these creatures and other forms of calcium carbonate in
and other forms of calcium carbonate in
and other forms of calcium carbonate in the ocean dissolve neutralized the acid
the ocean dissolve neutralized the acid
the ocean dissolve neutralized the acid the
the
the same way that a tablet you might take to
same way that a tablet you might take to
same way that a tablet you might take to sue stomach acid does and this has been
sue stomach acid does and this has been
sue stomach acid does and this has been happening for millennia we can see it
happening for millennia we can see it
happening for millennia we can see it over the fossil record and we can study
over the fossil record and we can study
over the fossil record and we can study it today to understand how our climate
it today to understand how our climate
it today to understand how our climate is changing so we talked a little bit
is changing so we talked a little bit
is changing so we talked a little bit about the ocean being blue a bit about
about the ocean being blue a bit about
about the ocean being blue a bit about it being green a bit about it being
it being green a bit about it being
it being green a bit about it being white but what about red I’d probably
white but what about red I’d probably
white but what about red I’d probably been a bit surprised to see a red paint
been a bit surprised to see a red paint
been a bit surprised to see a red paint pot in my painting by numbers kits when
pot in my painting by numbers kits when
pot in my painting by numbers kits when I was a child but indeed the ocean can
I was a child but indeed the ocean can
I was a child but indeed the ocean can turn red and once again it’s
turn red and once again it’s
turn red and once again it’s phytoplankton that are playing the role
phytoplankton that are playing the role
phytoplankton that are playing the role here these are called red tides you may
here these are called red tides you may
here these are called red tides you may have heard them called that their care
have heard them called that their care
have heard them called that their care in coastal areas they can occur quite
in coastal areas they can occur quite
in coastal areas they can occur quite naturally they can also occur as a
naturally they can also occur as a
naturally they can also occur as a result of anthropogenic inputs of
result of anthropogenic inputs of
result of anthropogenic inputs of pollution from us on land perhaps from
pollution from us on land perhaps from
pollution from us on land perhaps from excess fertilizer in this case here an
excess fertilizer in this case here an
excess fertilizer in this case here an example that’s very very close to my
example that’s very very close to my
example that’s very very close to my heart where I first studied these blooms
heart where I first studied these blooms
heart where I first studied these blooms in Cape Town South Africa is where they
in Cape Town South Africa is where they
in Cape Town South Africa is where they occur naturally when lots of nutrients
occur naturally when lots of nutrients
occur naturally when lots of nutrients are lifted into the surface waters by
are lifted into the surface waters by
are lifted into the surface waters by the winds and the currents that occur in
the winds and the currents that occur in
the winds and the currents that occur in this area when these nutrients arrive
this area when these nutrients arrive
this area when these nutrients arrive whether by human force or naturally
whether by human force or naturally
whether by human force or naturally phytoplankton grow in huge volumes and
phytoplankton grow in huge volumes and
phytoplankton grow in huge volumes and this looks amazing
this looks amazing
this looks amazing but this is a time when they’re not
but this is a time when they’re not
but this is a time when they’re not quite so benevolent they can contain
quite so benevolent they can contain
quite so benevolent they can contain toxins if you’ve ever eaten shellfish
toxins if you’ve ever eaten shellfish
toxins if you’ve ever eaten shellfish and gotten sick it might be one of these
and gotten sick it might be one of these
and gotten sick it might be one of these that was responsible when these blooms
that was responsible when these blooms
that was responsible when these blooms get really big as well they can crash
get really big as well they can crash
get really big as well they can crash when the nutrients run out and
when the nutrients run out and
when the nutrients run out and effectively you create a giant compost
effectively you create a giant compost
effectively you create a giant compost heap in the ocean all the oxygen gets
heap in the ocean all the oxygen gets
heap in the ocean all the oxygen gets pulled out now if your lobster it’s
pulled out now if your lobster it’s
pulled out now if your lobster it’s living in the shore you can’t move very
living in the shore you can’t move very
living in the shore you can’t move very fast can’t move very far suddenly you’ve
fast can’t move very far suddenly you’ve
fast can’t move very far suddenly you’ve got a no oxygen to breathe
got a no oxygen to breathe
got a no oxygen to breathe and along this coastline which is
and along this coastline which is
and along this coastline which is fascinating but deeply sad you get these
fascinating but deeply sad you get these
fascinating but deeply sad you get these lobsters that just walk out of the sea
lobsters that just walk out of the sea
lobsters that just walk out of the sea because they’ve got no oxygen to breathe
because they’ve got no oxygen to breathe
because they’ve got no oxygen to breathe so this area and these sorts of
so this area and these sorts of
so this area and these sorts of phenomena are a blessing and a curse
phenomena are a blessing and a curse
phenomena are a blessing and a curse the high productivity means you’ve got
the high productivity means you’ve got
the high productivity means you’ve got excellent fisheries brilliant
excellent fisheries brilliant
excellent fisheries brilliant aquaculture industries but you also are
aquaculture industries but you also are
aquaculture industries but you also are under threat and so we’ve been using
under threat and so we’ve been using
under threat and so we’ve been using satellite data to look at how when and
satellite data to look at how when and
satellite data to look at how when and why these blooms occur
why these blooms occur
why these blooms occur and from that we can help people to
and from that we can help people to
and from that we can help people to manage these impacts and support
manage these impacts and support
manage these impacts and support livelihoods and sustainable use of the
livelihoods and sustainable use of the
livelihoods and sustainable use of the oceans the last story that I want to
oceans the last story that I want to
oceans the last story that I want to tell you is one that’s probably the most
tell you is one that’s probably the most
tell you is one that’s probably the most important to all of us here I’d like to
important to all of us here I’d like to
important to all of us here I’d like to invite you to take a deep breath with me
you can thank phytoplankton for that
you can thank phytoplankton for that they produce around half of the oxygen
they produce around half of the oxygen
they produce around half of the oxygen is in the air that we breathe just like
is in the air that we breathe just like
is in the air that we breathe just like plants on land and you can see it
plants on land and you can see it
plants on land and you can see it beautifully in these images behind me
beautifully in these images behind me
beautifully in these images behind me you can see the seasonal breaths of the
you can see the seasonal breaths of the
you can see the seasonal breaths of the earth of the oceans in particular and
earth of the oceans in particular and
earth of the oceans in particular and you can see spring blooms just like we
you can see spring blooms just like we
you can see spring blooms just like we see on land you can see those coastal
see on land you can see those coastal
see on land you can see those coastal blooms that we talked about you can even
blooms that we talked about you can even
blooms that we talked about you can even see the deserts those purple patches in
see the deserts those purple patches in
see the deserts those purple patches in the middle of the oceans where there’s a
the middle of the oceans where there’s a
the middle of the oceans where there’s a lot less life in this video there’s 18
lot less life in this video there’s 18
lot less life in this video there’s 18 years worth of ocean color data and
years worth of ocean color data and
years worth of ocean color data and that’s amazing and we’ve now got two new
that’s amazing and we’ve now got two new
that’s amazing and we’ve now got two new satellites one’s been launched Sentinel
satellites one’s been launched Sentinel
satellites one’s been launched Sentinel 3a and soon will have its sister
3a and soon will have its sister
3a and soon will have its sister instrument Sentinel 3b these instruments
instrument Sentinel 3b these instruments
instrument Sentinel 3b these instruments are passing overhead giving this
are passing overhead giving this
are passing overhead giving this information to us every single day so
information to us every single day so
information to us every single day so that now in the future we can paint our
that now in the future we can paint our
that now in the future we can paint our ocean by numbers understand how it works
ocean by numbers understand how it works
ocean by numbers understand how it works and use it sustainably for our future
and use it sustainably for our future
and use it sustainably for our future thank you very much
”
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