Painting by Numbers | Hayley Evers-King | TEDxRheinMainSalon

I’m a scientist I work with data I

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