GESAMP. Tim Jickells & Bob Duce. Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia, Norwich UK

Transcription

1 GESAMP Tim Jickells & Bob Duce Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences School of Environmental Sciences University of East Anglia, Norwich UK On behalf of Peter Kershaw GESAMP Chair

2 GESAMP The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection An inter-agency body of the United Nations established in 1969 Purpose: to provide authoritative, independent, interdisciplinary scientific advice to organizations and governments to support the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment.

3 The Blue Planet

4 How GESAMP functions Nine UN Sponsoring Agencies GESAMP Office Executive Committee GESAMP Members* independent experts Working groups Task teams Advice to UN Ad hoc activities Partners Regional Seas Industry Science bodies Conventions NGOs Governments Foundations Independent experts * Membership (February 2017): Australia, Italy, India, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, UK, USA

5 Working group outputs Technical recommendations (e.g. IMO MEPC) Technical report Reports & Studies Series Working group Policy-relevant recommendations Science needs Scientific Journals

6 GESAMP working groups: WG 1 hazard evaluation of harmful substances carried by ships IMO (self-funded) WG 34 review of applications for active substances in ballast water management systems IMO (self-funded) WG 38 atmospheric inputs of chemicals to the ocean - WMO WG 39 global trends of pollution of coastal ecosystems IAEA WG 40 sources, fate & effects of microplastics IOC, UNEP, FAO WG 41 marine geoengineering - IMO WG 42 impacts of mine tailings - IMO

7 GESAMP Reports & Studies Series

8 Capturing emerging issues GESAMP Members plus Executive Committee Emerging issue Correspondence Group Scoping paper Working Group Conference or workshop Horizon scanning Relevant organisations, science bodies, initiatives & individuals/expertise

9 GESAMP Correspondence Groups: 1. The environmental impact of disinfection by-products 2. The impacts of chronic hydrocarbon contamination 3. The causes and impacts of massive accumulations of Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean and West Africa 4. The impact of pharmaceutical and other novel chemicals in wastewater 5. The extent and impacts of onshore and offshore sand mining

10 The causes and impacts of massive accumulations of Sargassum seaweed in the Caribbean and West Africa First occurrence 2011 Potential factors: Increased nutrient supply Changes in ocean circulation Changes in SST Changes in CO 2

11 GESAMP working groups: WG 1 hazard evaluation of harmful substances carried by ships IMO (self-funded) WG 34 review of applications for active substances in ballast water management systems IMO (self-funded) WG 38 atmospheric inputs of chemicals to the ocean - WMO WG 39 global trends of pollution of coastal ecosystems IAEA WG 40 sources, fate & effects of microplastics IOC, UNEP, FAO WG 41 marine geoengineering - IMO WG 42 impacts of mine tailings - IMO

12 GESAMP WG 38 The Atmospheric Input of Chemicals to the Ocean WMO lead agency. Undertake studies on the impact of the temporal and spatial changes of atmospheric composition and deposition on oceanic ecosystems, marine biogeochemistry, and climate. Provide a link between the atmospheric composition and deposition community and the marine environment research community. Publish reports and peer-reviewed papers - 10 over the last 9 years e.g. on atmospheric deposition of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, iron) to the ocean and their impacts, impact of atmospheric acidification on marine waters. Provides advisory reports to WMO groups e.g. WMO Precipitation Data Synthesis and Community Project and SDS-WAS on marine environment issues WG 38/SDS-WAS joint meeting to develop advice on marine atmospheric sampling locations and protocols for dust to benefit both the atmospheric and marine science communities.

13 Impacts of nitrogen deposition to the oceans Revise Duce et al., 2008 Science paper Quantify inputs from atmosphere, rivers and nitrogen fixation Estimate impacts of atmospheric deposition Define uncertainties Consider hotspots Projections to the future Total of 5 papers summarised in Jickells et al 2017 Global Biogeochemical Cycles 31,

14 Soluble Reactive Nitrogen deposition to the ocean TM4-ECPL MODEL results NOy NHx ON

15 Net Nitrogen Inputs to the Oceans TgN yr -1 Source Total Flux to the ocean TgN yr -1 Atmosphere 39 >30 Fluvial N 2 Fixation Flux to the open ocean TgN yr -1 Much of the oceans are nitrogen limited with the atmosphere the dominant external source of nitrogen to the oceans and current atmospheric supply enhancing productivity (and C uptake) by about 0.4%, equivalent to 0.15PgC yr -1 ocean uptake. Jickells et al 2017

16 GESAMP Working Group 38 Two workshops on the changes in the acid/base balance of the atmosphere and ocean and their subsequent impacts on air/sea chemical exchange University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK 27 February - 2 March 2017 European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017 Vienna Austria April 2017

17 GESAMP & GAW in partnership potential areas of interest: Expansion of GAW network to include more ocean-relevant stations (platforms, mid-ocean islands etc) and more comprehensive set of determinands Atmospheric deposition of nutrients (N, P & Fe) Biogeochemical cycles Influence of acidification of atmosphere & ocean Influence on local & regional scale biological phenomena e.g. Sargassum outbreaks, HABs, eutrophication Long-distance transport & transformations of contaminants (POPs, PCBs, Hg) Climate engineering Solar radiation management Fertilisation of surface ocean

18 Thank You for listening

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