‘silent timebomb’ to be studied at new Newburgh unit
Oceanlab 2 to tackle acidification
Published:
A new £5million research facility has been built in the north-east to help scientists tackle the “silent environmental timebomb” facing the world’s oceans.
Talk of climate change has centred on rising sea levels and freak weather events – while problems caused by the acidulation of the seas have slipped under the radar largely.
However, professor Monty Priede, of the University of Aberdeen, is heading a top team of marine experts looking to save the Earth’s underwater environment from the excesses of mankind.
The university’s Oceanlab is already leading groundbreaking studies and uncovered six new species of fish last year alone.
Now Oceanlab 2 – a brand new complex next door to the original Oceanlab at Newburgh – will enable scientists to do much more to further our understanding of the marine environment. The combined Oceanlab facilities will give scientists the capabilities to explore every part of the sea from its shores to its furthest depths.
Prof Priede said this will be crucial in the fight to learn more about what C0 emissions are doing to fish.
“The big issue of concern is ocean acidification as the carbon dioxide released by industry is absorbed by the ocean,” he said.
“Oceans absorb about half of the emissions released into the atmosphere and if it wasn’t for the ocean then global warming in the atmosphere would be much worse.
“The problem is that the oceans absorb C0 at the expense of becoming more and more acid. There is a concern if acidification of the ocean carries on then the first candidates to die off will be corals.
“Corals wont be able to grow in an acid ocean and that will cause problems for a lot of animals.”
“It is a silent timebomb sitting in the background.
The professor added: “One of our studies has shown that it also effects the hatching of fish eggs.”
Oceanlab leads the world with its remotely operated systems called landers that can be deployed in water as deep as 36,000 feet.
The technology has enabled researchers to make a series of breakthroughs including discovering new species and capturing the deepest ever images of living fish.
One of the key features of Oceanlab 2 is its Ocean Futures lab which has special climate chambers for simulating rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, who opened the facility yesterday, said: “We are heading towards an era where renewable energy will be even more important in our fight against climate change, and our seas will only become more valuable.
“Improving our understanding of the marine environment is key, so leading research institutions like Oceanlab clearly have a vital role to play in terms of increasing Scotland’s competitive edge and keeping us at the forefront of international marine research.”
