Today I attended the National Climate Change Monitoring Symposium at Sydney University, which offered a diverse range of speakers, and a glut of powerpoint presentations. There were, however, some highlights that stood out for me, in particular, the opening remarks of Dr Tony Press of the Australian Antarctic Division who spoke about the changes happening in the chemical composition of the Southern Ocean. He added that one of the biggest unknowns in the IPCC reporting is what is happening in Antarctica. Tony spoke about the dynamics of the deep water ocean in this region and the significance of changes in plankton communities. Several speakers addressed the changes that were happening in this pristine environment and others looked further north, including to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, home to 6 out of 7 of the world's marine turtles according to Janice Lough. The reef also supports 66,000 Australians who provide services to divers, tourists, and to others who are still discovering organisms in its vast and vulnerable systems.
The day was full of snippets, representing years of study and intense work - often undertaken by dedicated professionals to monitor our planet. It was also a day to listen to why we so urgently need to change our way of living and working, so that the "kids and their kids" will have an Antarctic and a Great Barrier Reef, to visit, to enjoy and to study.
Pics ex Flickr Antarctica Gerlache Strait by Rita Willaert and Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia by Leonard Lowe
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