I fell in love with the ocean 10 years ago sorry when I was a child I was 10
ago sorry when I was a child I was 10
ago sorry when I was a child I was 10 years old living in rural Canada and my
years old living in rural Canada and my
years old living in rural Canada and my parents put my brother and I into our
parents put my brother and I into our
parents put my brother and I into our family station wagon and we drove the 24
family station wagon and we drove the 24
family station wagon and we drove the 24 hours down to the coast of Florida when
hours down to the coast of Florida when
hours down to the coast of Florida when we arrived and I saw the ocean for the
we arrived and I saw the ocean for the
we arrived and I saw the ocean for the first time I saw its vastness we opened
first time I saw its vastness we opened
first time I saw its vastness we opened the car door and I smelt the salty sea
the car door and I smelt the salty sea
the car door and I smelt the salty sea air and when when we went wading into
air and when when we went wading into
air and when when we went wading into the waves
the waves
the waves we saw the dolphins playing offshore I
we saw the dolphins playing offshore I
we saw the dolphins playing offshore I knew that in there that I wanted to look
knew that in there that I wanted to look
knew that in there that I wanted to look after all the creatures that lived in
after all the creatures that lived in
after all the creatures that lived in the oceans
the oceans
the oceans a decade later I was an undergraduate
a decade later I was an undergraduate
a decade later I was an undergraduate major studying in marine biology and
major studying in marine biology and
major studying in marine biology and what I learned is that if I wanted to
what I learned is that if I wanted to
what I learned is that if I wanted to look after all those plants and animals
look after all those plants and animals
look after all those plants and animals I first had to look after their home the
I first had to look after their home the
I first had to look after their home the ocean itself now I’m an oceanographer
ocean itself now I’m an oceanographer
ocean itself now I’m an oceanographer and I study the health of our oceans and
and I study the health of our oceans and
and I study the health of our oceans and what I’m seeing in my research and the
what I’m seeing in my research and the
what I’m seeing in my research and the research for my colleagues is not great
research for my colleagues is not great
research for my colleagues is not great the oceans aren’t doing very well and
the oceans aren’t doing very well and
the oceans aren’t doing very well and that’s because of carbon the carbon that
that’s because of carbon the carbon that
that’s because of carbon the carbon that we’re putting in the atmosphere that’s
we’re putting in the atmosphere that’s
we’re putting in the atmosphere that’s warming the sea water temperatures and
warming the sea water temperatures and
warming the sea water temperatures and then some of that carbon is dissolving
then some of that carbon is dissolving
then some of that carbon is dissolving into the sea water changing the sea
into the sea water changing the sea
into the sea water changing the sea water pH now the oceans are really old
water pH now the oceans are really old
water pH now the oceans are really old there are over 4 billion years and
there are over 4 billion years and
there are over 4 billion years and they’ve been evolving for a very long
they’ve been evolving for a very long
they’ve been evolving for a very long period of time over the entire time
period of time over the entire time
period of time over the entire time they’ve been around and if we look at
they’ve been around and if we look at
they’ve been around and if we look at the things that lived in the ocean a
the things that lived in the ocean a
the things that lived in the ocean a long time ago they look very different
long time ago they look very different
long time ago they look very different than what lives in the ocean today but
than what lives in the ocean today but
than what lives in the ocean today but what’s happening now is the rate of
what’s happening now is the rate of
what’s happening now is the rate of change that’s happening the warming and
change that’s happening the warming and
change that’s happening the warming and the change in sea water pH is happening
the change in sea water pH is happening
the change in sea water pH is happening faster then it’s happened over the past
faster then it’s happened over the past
faster then it’s happened over the past several hundred million years and maybe
several hundred million years and maybe
several hundred million years and maybe faster than it’s ever happened and so
faster than it’s ever happened and so
faster than it’s ever happened and so we’re changing what’s going to be able
we’re changing what’s going to be able
we’re changing what’s going to be able to live in the oceans and in particular
to live in the oceans and in particular
to live in the oceans and in particular we’re making it hard for organisms that
we’re making it hard for organisms that
we’re making it hard for organisms that have a calcium carbonate skeleton so if
have a calcium carbonate skeleton so if
have a calcium carbonate skeleton so if you’re a scuba diver or a snorkeler then
you’re a scuba diver or a snorkeler then
you’re a scuba diver or a snorkeler then maybe tropical corals are familiar sight
maybe tropical corals are familiar sight
maybe tropical corals are familiar sight to you or maybe you don’t like going in
to you or maybe you don’t like going in
to you or maybe you don’t like going in the ocean water but you like eating
the ocean water but you like eating
the ocean water but you like eating stuff from the ocean shellfish and
stuff from the ocean shellfish and
stuff from the ocean shellfish and oysters
oysters
oysters these have a calcium carbonate skeleton
these have a calcium carbonate skeleton
these have a calcium carbonate skeleton and it’s harder for them to grow in the
and it’s harder for them to grow in the
and it’s harder for them to grow in the oceans today because of us and then as a
oceans today because of us and then as a
oceans today because of us and then as a scientist what I study it’s a plant is
scientist what I study it’s a plant is
scientist what I study it’s a plant is this like pink thing that you can see
this like pink thing that you can see
this like pink thing that you can see it’s a plant living in the shallow
it’s a plant living in the shallow
it’s a plant living in the shallow waters of the ocean on the sea floor
waters of the ocean on the sea floor
waters of the ocean on the sea floor it’s photosynthesizes and it grows a
it’s photosynthesizes and it grows a
it’s photosynthesizes and it grows a hard rock like skeleton and this plant
hard rock like skeleton and this plant
hard rock like skeleton and this plant is amazing
is amazing
is amazing because we can use it as a tool to
because we can use it as a tool to
because we can use it as a tool to understand how the oceans have changed
understand how the oceans have changed
understand how the oceans have changed to explain this I’m going to use a plant
to explain this I’m going to use a plant
to explain this I’m going to use a plant that probably most of you are more
that probably most of you are more
that probably most of you are more familiar with a tree so some trees in
familiar with a tree so some trees in
familiar with a tree so some trees in some locations form growth rings and
some locations form growth rings and
some locations form growth rings and these growth rings are formed every year
these growth rings are formed every year
these growth rings are formed every year in the trunk of the tree and if you know
in the trunk of the tree and if you know
in the trunk of the tree and if you know when the trunk was cut down or if you
when the trunk was cut down or if you
when the trunk was cut down or if you take a piece of the tree you can
take a piece of the tree you can
take a piece of the tree you can actually identify time in the growth of
actually identify time in the growth of
actually identify time in the growth of the trunk and you can count year after
the trunk and you can count year after
the trunk and you can count year after year after year
year after year
year after year that that tree was living now some trees
that that tree was living now some trees
that that tree was living now some trees in some locations they respond to
in some locations they respond to
in some locations they respond to changes in temperature when it’s warmer
changes in temperature when it’s warmer
changes in temperature when it’s warmer they grow more and that growth ring is
they grow more and that growth ring is
they grow more and that growth ring is actually a little bit wider and when
actually a little bit wider and when
actually a little bit wider and when it’s cooler outside cooler year they
it’s cooler outside cooler year they
it’s cooler outside cooler year they grow less and that growth ring is a
grow less and that growth ring is a
grow less and that growth ring is a little bit narrower and you can actually
little bit narrower and you can actually
little bit narrower and you can actually measure the width of each of these
measure the width of each of these
measure the width of each of these growth rings of that tree was living and
growth rings of that tree was living and
growth rings of that tree was living and create a record of how temperature
create a record of how temperature
create a record of how temperature around that tree has changed over the
around that tree has changed over the
around that tree has changed over the lifespan of the tree and I do the same
lifespan of the tree and I do the same
lifespan of the tree and I do the same thing in the oceans with my coral and
thing in the oceans with my coral and
thing in the oceans with my coral and algae the top layer across the pink
algae the top layer across the pink
algae the top layer across the pink there’s that with a living tissue layer
there’s that with a living tissue layer
there’s that with a living tissue layer when the specimen was collected this is
when the specimen was collected this is
when the specimen was collected this is one of our giant specimens you can see
one of our giant specimens you can see
one of our giant specimens you can see it was about this big when we collected
it was about this big when we collected
it was about this big when we collected it and it formed this hard rock like
it and it formed this hard rock like
it and it formed this hard rock like skeleton of calcium carbonate and when
skeleton of calcium carbonate and when
skeleton of calcium carbonate and when we section this algae in half we get
we section this algae in half we get
we section this algae in half we get growth layers in the skeleton just like
growth layers in the skeleton just like
growth layers in the skeleton just like the growth rings in a tree and grows in
the growth rings in a tree and grows in
the growth rings in a tree and grows in this algae changes but what else changes
this algae changes but what else changes
this algae changes but what else changes in the skeleton is the concentration of
in the skeleton is the concentration of
in the skeleton is the concentration of an element magnesium so that when the
an element magnesium so that when the
an element magnesium so that when the sea water around the algae is growing is
sea water around the algae is growing is
sea water around the algae is growing is when the seawater is higher you get more
when the seawater is higher you get more
when the seawater is higher you get more magnesium and when the sea water is
magnesium and when the sea water is
magnesium and when the sea water is colder you get less magnesium so you can
colder you get less magnesium so you can
colder you get less magnesium so you can actually measure the amount of magnesium
actually measure the amount of magnesium
actually measure the amount of magnesium and each growth layer of the skeleton
and each growth layer of the skeleton
and each growth layer of the skeleton over the time the algae was growing and
over the time the algae was growing and
over the time the algae was growing and you have a thermometer of seawater
you have a thermometer of seawater
you have a thermometer of seawater temperature creating a record of how the
temperature creating a record of how the
temperature creating a record of how the temperatures have changed so if this
temperatures have changed so if this
temperatures have changed so if this algae lived for 10 years we know what
algae lived for 10 years we know what
algae lived for 10 years we know what temperature was in the oceans a decade
temperature was in the oceans a decade
temperature was in the oceans a decade ago or if the algae lived for a hundred
ago or if the algae lived for a hundred
ago or if the algae lived for a hundred years then we know what temperature was
years then we know what temperature was
years then we know what temperature was in the oceans a century ago whoo it’s
in the oceans a century ago whoo it’s
in the oceans a century ago whoo it’s really neat
really neat
really neat Algie can grow for more than six times
Algie can grow for more than six times
Algie can grow for more than six times longer than any of us in this room we
longer than any of us in this room we
longer than any of us in this room we have a specimen that’s 646 years old
have a specimen that’s 646 years old
have a specimen that’s 646 years old from the northern Atlantic Ocean each
from the northern Atlantic Ocean each
from the northern Atlantic Ocean each year putting down that growth layer and
year putting down that growth layer and
year putting down that growth layer and capturing the seawater temperature in
capturing the seawater temperature in
capturing the seawater temperature in its skeleton and what we’re finding from
its skeleton and what we’re finding from
its skeleton and what we’re finding from these records of ocean temperature is
these records of ocean temperature is
these records of ocean temperature is that temperature has gone up over the
that temperature has gone up over the
that temperature has gone up over the past century
past century
past century from the oceans from these coral and
from the oceans from these coral and
from the oceans from these coral and algae from trees on land and other
algae from trees on land and other
algae from trees on land and other materials in our planet we know
materials in our planet we know
materials in our planet we know temperature has gone up about one degree
temperature has gone up about one degree
temperature has gone up about one degree Celsius and based on our understanding
Celsius and based on our understanding
Celsius and based on our understanding of what causes temperature changing and
of what causes temperature changing and
of what causes temperature changing and how those variables are changing we know
how those variables are changing we know
how those variables are changing we know that temperature is going to go up
that temperature is going to go up
that temperature is going to go up another degree Celsius by the end of
another degree Celsius by the end of
another degree Celsius by the end of this century and that is because of
this century and that is because of
this century and that is because of carbon what we’re doing is we are
carbon what we’re doing is we are
carbon what we’re doing is we are burning fossil fuels we’re taking carbon
burning fossil fuels we’re taking carbon
burning fossil fuels we’re taking carbon that’s locked in the fossil fuel
that’s locked in the fossil fuel
that’s locked in the fossil fuel reservoir for example is cool we’re
reservoir for example is cool we’re
reservoir for example is cool we’re combusting it for energy and as a
combusting it for energy and as a
combusting it for energy and as a product of that we’re putting carbon
product of that we’re putting carbon
product of that we’re putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the
dioxide into the atmosphere through the
dioxide into the atmosphere through the greenhouse gas effect that’s warming our
greenhouse gas effect that’s warming our
greenhouse gas effect that’s warming our planet and our oceans but the other
planet and our oceans but the other
planet and our oceans but the other thing that’s happening is about a third
thing that’s happening is about a third
thing that’s happening is about a third of that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
of that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
of that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we’re putting in the carbon death
that we’re putting in the carbon death
that we’re putting in the carbon death into the atmosphere is dissolving into
into the atmosphere is dissolving into
into the atmosphere is dissolving into the ocean and this is causing a change
the ocean and this is causing a change
the ocean and this is causing a change in the chemistry of the ocean the change
in the chemistry of the ocean the change
in the chemistry of the ocean the change that’s happening is when you put more
that’s happening is when you put more
that’s happening is when you put more carbon dioxide dissolving into seawater
carbon dioxide dissolving into seawater
carbon dioxide dissolving into seawater it increases the amount of the hydrogen
it increases the amount of the hydrogen
it increases the amount of the hydrogen ion for increasing hydrogen
ion for increasing hydrogen
ion for increasing hydrogen concentration in the seawater and if you
concentration in the seawater and if you
concentration in the seawater and if you remember maybe from high school
remember maybe from high school
remember maybe from high school chemistry or middle school chemistry
chemistry or middle school chemistry
chemistry or middle school chemistry that’s pH pH is a measure of the
that’s pH pH is a measure of the
that’s pH pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion we have decreased the pH of
hydrogen ion we have decreased the pH of
hydrogen ion we have decreased the pH of our global oceans by 0.1 pH units over
our global oceans by 0.1 pH units over
our global oceans by 0.1 pH units over the past several decades now 0.1 doesn’t
the past several decades now 0.1 doesn’t
the past several decades now 0.1 doesn’t seem like very much but that’s actually
seem like very much but that’s actually
seem like very much but that’s actually a logarithmic scale and we’ve increased
a logarithmic scale and we’ve increased
a logarithmic scale and we’ve increased the relative acidity of the oceans by 25
the relative acidity of the oceans by 25
the relative acidity of the oceans by 25 percent now it happens when you decrease
percent now it happens when you decrease
percent now it happens when you decrease the water pH when you increase the
the water pH when you increase the
the water pH when you increase the amount of the hydrogen ion is more
amount of the hydrogen ion is more
amount of the hydrogen ion is more chemical reactions that decreases the
chemical reactions that decreases the
chemical reactions that decreases the amount of the carbonate ion and it’s the
amount of the carbonate ion and it’s the
amount of the carbonate ion and it’s the hot carbonate ion that the tropical
hot carbonate ion that the tropical
hot carbonate ion that the tropical corals the shellfish and my coral and
corals the shellfish and my coral and
corals the shellfish and my coral and algae you
algae you
algae you to grow their carbonate skeleton their
to grow their carbonate skeleton their
to grow their carbonate skeleton their calcium carbonate skeleton needs that
calcium carbonate skeleton needs that
calcium carbonate skeleton needs that carbonate ion and we’re taking away that
carbonate ion and we’re taking away that
carbonate ion and we’re taking away that carbonate ion from the seawater in our
carbonate ion from the seawater in our
carbonate ion from the seawater in our oceans so my research project right now
oceans so my research project right now
oceans so my research project right now as a scientist is to try and understand
as a scientist is to try and understand
as a scientist is to try and understand what will our oceans look like in the
what will our oceans look like in the
what will our oceans look like in the future one way we can understand that is
future one way we can understand that is
future one way we can understand that is to go to areas where this is happening
to go to areas where this is happening
to go to areas where this is happening faster this is a map of the amount of
faster this is a map of the amount of
faster this is a map of the amount of the carbonate ion in our oceans and what
the carbonate ion in our oceans and what
the carbonate ion in our oceans and what you can see where the red colors are
you can see where the red colors are
you can see where the red colors are there’s less carbonate ion in the higher
there’s less carbonate ion in the higher
there’s less carbonate ion in the higher latitudes
latitudes
latitudes around the southern ocean around
around the southern ocean around
around the southern ocean around Antarctica and in the Arctic there’s
Antarctica and in the Arctic there’s
Antarctica and in the Arctic there’s less carbonate here because the water is
less carbonate here because the water is
less carbonate here because the water is colder and it’s dissolving more carbon
colder and it’s dissolving more carbon
colder and it’s dissolving more carbon dioxide so we can use it as a canary in
dioxide so we can use it as a canary in
dioxide so we can use it as a canary in the gold mine a testing bed to see what
the gold mine a testing bed to see what
the gold mine a testing bed to see what the future oh she’s are going to look
the future oh she’s are going to look
the future oh she’s are going to look like I was fortunate a couple of years
like I was fortunate a couple of years
like I was fortunate a couple of years ago to go up to northern Canada above
ago to go up to northern Canada above
ago to go up to northern Canada above the Arctic Circle to do some research in
the Arctic Circle to do some research in
the Arctic Circle to do some research in a very small community we went up there
a very small community we went up there
a very small community we went up there it was
it was
it was about a week after the longest day of
about a week after the longest day of
about a week after the longest day of the year but it was still winter and
the year but it was still winter and
the year but it was still winter and Here I am standing on top of several
Here I am standing on top of several
Here I am standing on top of several hundred meters of ocean I’m standing on
hundred meters of ocean I’m standing on
hundred meters of ocean I’m standing on about a metre of sea ice it was starting
about a metre of sea ice it was starting
about a metre of sea ice it was starting to melt and if I had come back a couple
to melt and if I had come back a couple
to melt and if I had come back a couple weeks later then I probably would have
weeks later then I probably would have
weeks later then I probably would have been swimming in the ocean at that point
been swimming in the ocean at that point
been swimming in the ocean at that point we went during the day searching for the
we went during the day searching for the
we went during the day searching for the algae we had identified ahead of time
algae we had identified ahead of time
algae we had identified ahead of time based on the geology of the area
based on the geology of the area
based on the geology of the area locations where we thought we would find
locations where we thought we would find
locations where we thought we would find the algae underneath the water now it’s
the algae underneath the water now it’s
the algae underneath the water now it’s cold I’m a scuba diver but I’m a bit of
cold I’m a scuba diver but I’m a bit of
cold I’m a scuba diver but I’m a bit of a wuss so we worked with experienced ice
a wuss so we worked with experienced ice
a wuss so we worked with experienced ice diver we actually had to cut a hole in
diver we actually had to cut a hole in
diver we actually had to cut a hole in the ice for him to go underwater with
the ice for him to go underwater with
the ice for him to go underwater with the idea to go find the algae so that we
the idea to go find the algae so that we
the idea to go find the algae so that we can bring it back to the lab to study
can bring it back to the lab to study
can bring it back to the lab to study the skeleton of the algae when he went
the skeleton of the algae when he went
the skeleton of the algae when he went down because sunlight can penetrate
down because sunlight can penetrate
down because sunlight can penetrate through sea ice this was the visibility
through sea ice this was the visibility
through sea ice this was the visibility he had you can see the rocky seafloor
he had you can see the rocky seafloor
he had you can see the rocky seafloor and some of the fleshy green algae and
and some of the fleshy green algae and
and some of the fleshy green algae and there for the first time at this site on
there for the first time at this site on
there for the first time at this site on the large rocks we found my algae now
the large rocks we found my algae now
the large rocks we found my algae now this was early July and there was still
this was early July and there was still
this was early July and there was still sea ice so this plant that can grow for
sea ice so this plant that can grow for
sea ice so this plant that can grow for 650 years can do so under sea ice ten
650 years can do so under sea ice ten
650 years can do so under sea ice ten months of the year so from this
months of the year so from this
months of the year so from this collection we brought it back to the lab
collection we brought it back to the lab
collection we brought it back to the lab and now we’re analyzing the skeleton to
and now we’re analyzing the skeleton to
and now we’re analyzing the skeleton to see how has temperature changed in the
see how has temperature changed in the
see how has temperature changed in the past at this
past at this
past at this location in the Arctic how has seawater
location in the Arctic how has seawater
location in the Arctic how has seawater pH changed and how is the properties of
pH changed and how is the properties of
pH changed and how is the properties of the skeleton how is this algae doing is
the skeleton how is this algae doing is
the skeleton how is this algae doing is the skeleton more fragile is it more
the skeleton more fragile is it more
the skeleton more fragile is it more robust how is it doing how is the health
robust how is it doing how is the health
robust how is it doing how is the health of this environment for these organisms
of this environment for these organisms
of this environment for these organisms that live there I don’t have the answers
that live there I don’t have the answers
that live there I don’t have the answers yet this is still a project that we’re
yet this is still a project that we’re
yet this is still a project that we’re working on but I do know what’s
working on but I do know what’s
working on but I do know what’s happening is that we’re changing our
happening is that we’re changing our
happening is that we’re changing our environment because of our carbon
environment because of our carbon
environment because of our carbon dioxide emissions we are causing a
dioxide emissions we are causing a
dioxide emissions we are causing a warming and we are causing sea water pH
warming and we are causing sea water pH
warming and we are causing sea water pH to decline now the good news to the
to decline now the good news to the
to decline now the good news to the story if there is good news is that we
story if there is good news is that we
story if there is good news is that we know what the problem is its carbon but
know what the problem is its carbon but
know what the problem is its carbon but that also means we can do something
that also means we can do something
that also means we can do something about it we can decide to shape the
about it we can decide to shape the
about it we can decide to shape the future of our oceans and other planet to
future of our oceans and other planet to
future of our oceans and other planet to make sure that they’re a healthy home
make sure that they’re a healthy home
make sure that they’re a healthy home for everything that lives in it like my
for everything that lives in it like my
for everything that lives in it like my coral and algae and all the things that
coral and algae and all the things that
coral and algae and all the things that depend on it like us so even though it’s
depend on it like us so even though it’s
depend on it like us so even though it’s a vast problem much faster than the
a vast problem much faster than the
a vast problem much faster than the ocean is itself I know that by reducing
ocean is itself I know that by reducing
ocean is itself I know that by reducing my own carbon dioxide emissions I can
my own carbon dioxide emissions I can
my own carbon dioxide emissions I can make a difference so every time I ride
make a difference so every time I ride
make a difference so every time I ride my bike instead of taking my car or
my bike instead of taking my car or
my bike instead of taking my car or instead of flying far away but stay
instead of flying far away but stay
instead of flying far away but stay close to home for a staycation or even
close to home for a staycation or even
close to home for a staycation or even instead of just following meatless
instead of just following meatless
instead of just following meatless Monday but also having more beans and
Monday but also having more beans and
Monday but also having more beans and lentils on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
lentils on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
lentils on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday as well I reduce my carbon
Friday as well I reduce my carbon
Friday as well I reduce my carbon dioxide emissions the other thing I can
dioxide emissions the other thing I can
dioxide emissions the other thing I can do is that when I exercise my right to
do is that when I exercise my right to
do is that when I exercise my right to vote I take into account the health of
vote I take into account the health of
vote I take into account the health of our oceans and our planet when I make
our oceans and our planet when I make
our oceans and our planet when I make that decision because if we all do this
that decision because if we all do this
that decision because if we all do this the small things and the big things we
the small things and the big things we
the small things and the big things we can change what our future planet is
can change what our future planet is
can change what our future planet is going to look like we can reduce our
going to look like we can reduce our
going to look like we can reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and by the end
carbon dioxide emissions and by the end
carbon dioxide emissions and by the end of this century instead of warming three
of this century instead of warming three
of this century instead of warming three four five degrees Celsius we will only
four five degrees Celsius we will only
four five degrees Celsius we will only warm one degree and instead of
warm one degree and instead of
warm one degree and instead of decreasing the sea water pH by about
decreasing the sea water pH by about
decreasing the sea water pH by about half a pH unit we can only decrease it a
half a pH unit we can only decrease it a
half a pH unit we can only decrease it a little bit more than it already has gone
little bit more than it already has gone
little bit more than it already has gone down and this means that our ocean that
down and this means that our ocean that
down and this means that our ocean that supports all these things both that live
supports all these things both that live
supports all these things both that live in it and that depend on it things like
in it and that depend on it things like
in it and that depend on it things like my algae that have been around for 650
my algae that have been around for 650
my algae that have been around for 650 years well maybe it’ll be around for 650
years well maybe it’ll be around for 650
years well maybe it’ll be around for 650 more thank you
”
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