Cornell Oceanography Newsletters

Sara Choi <sc2492@cornell.edu>

Cornell Oceanography Newsletter (Volume 2 | Issue 1) 1 message Ocean-L@cornell.edu <Ocean-L@cornell.edu> Reply-To: "Bruce C. Monger" <bcm3@cornell.edu> (redacted for privacy purposes) To: OCEAN-L <OCEAN-L@list.cornell.edu>

Fri, Oct 25, 2019 at 9:00 AM

Hi All— Please find below the first issue of this years’s Cornell Oceanography Newsletter (Volume 2 | Issue 1). This is an effort put together by this year’s undergraduate TAs in the Introductory Oceanography Class.

The newsletter contains an aggregation of news items related to ocean conservation and sustainability that were submitted by some of the undergraduate TAs and by interested students in this years’s oceanography class. I hope you enjoy some of the news stories that we found!!

Kind Regards Bruce

Welcome to the Cornell Oceanography newsletter! The Oceanography Undergraduate TAs and student contributors have compiled stories and news about pertinent environmental matters for you here. Happy reading!

— Sara, Editor-in-Chief

Global Environment A Decade Later, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Has Left an Abyssal Wasteland

Summary: This article details the truth about the health of the ocean seafloor at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010, where an estimated 10 million gallons settled. The initial reports on the ecology of the seafloor directly after the spill showed a steady decline in the species present at the site. Although around 2014 BP released that the site was returning to prespill conditions, the observations of the arthropod populations in 2017 were deceiving due to the crabs' sickly appearances and lack of other base of the food chain species present before the

spill.

Significance: It is interesting to examine the long-term effects of human influence, considering the Deepwater Horizon incident occurred almost a decade ago. Although national attention to the local environment there diminished, the issue has by no means been resolved. The oil on the surface of the ocean may no longer be visible, but currently, there is no technology to remove oil from the seafloor yet. Additionally, the return of organisms to the area does not mean the biodiversity and ecology of the area has recovered. In order to be environmentally-conscious citizens, it is crucial to consider the long-term effects of biodiversity loss and the consequences of chemical exposure.

Climate Change: Scientists to Report on 'Emergency' Caused by Warming

Summary: This article focuses on the impacts of the melting ice sheets and permafrost in the Arctic and their relation to atmospheric CO2 levels. Although the oceans have been absorbing a lot of the CO2 emitted by humans, the author warns they are reaching their limit. The consequences could be disastrous, leading to flooding of coastal countries, increases in emissions, and loss of biodiversity as ocean chemistry changes.

Significance: I chose this article because I wanted to share an article that points out how people take advantage of the oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s processes that benefit us and often forget that this system cannot go on this way infinitely. Not only are we increasing the scale of our emissions, we are ignoring the fact that we have started processes that are irreversible without drastic action. Ambitious, urgent change is needed because what has worked in the past will not work in the future.

Climate Change How You Look as a Meat-Eater Protesting Climate Change

Summary: We have seen the power of unity through nation-wide marches, but we cannot forget about the collective impact of individual action. In order for each of us to be aware of our effects on the environment, we must acknowledge our role in supporting industries that cause environmental damage. To do this, we must bring animal agriculture into the discussion.

Significance: Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change. It is the leading cause of deforestation, ocean depletion, species extinction, among other environmental ills.

Despite these facts, climate change discussions largely ignore them because of the political and economic influence of animal agriculture industries. If people want to do something about climate change, they should consider adopting a plant-based diet to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

7 Young Climate Change Activists from Around the World

Summary: Last week, Greta Thunberg proved to be an iconic face and voice of the youth movement against climate change to demand action from world leaders. However, teens across the globe are also involved in this strike for an issue threatening the future of their generation and their planet. From striking every Friday, to forcing McDonalds to change its policies on plastic toys, these young people are set on fighting back against climate change and are the ones leading for change.

Significance: As we move into prelim season, we are often too busy to notice the events around us or the cause we are fighting for. These young people serve as an inspiration to us all that even the smallest actions can have significant impacts.

2°C: Beyond the Limit - Extreme Climate Change Has Arrived in America

Summary: Climate science suggests a 2°C increase in the global mean temperature is a critical

threshold, beyond which life on Earth will be altered dramatically in unimaginable ways. However, the 2°C increase is an average. In actuality, some locations have already exceeded 2°C warming and experienced shifts in lifestyles and traditions. This article looks back into the past to see how it evolved into our present and may shape our future.

Significance: Climate is, collectively, the long-term trends in weather conditions. True to this definition, the article examines long term trends as opposed to isolated events. Furthermore, interviews with those affected add a personal component to the story that statistics cannot provide.

Sustainability How to Buy Clothes That Are Built to Last

Summary: There’s more to sustainability in clothing than just buying fewer or more durable items.

This guide can give consumers a few tips on what to look for on their next shopping trip.

Significance: I know so many people who tell me they care about climate change but don’t know what to do about it. The simplest way to approach this is to start with yourself. By becoming aware of your carbon footprint, you can figure out what little changes to your lifestyle will work for you because our current materialistic lifestyles are not sustainable. We can’t keep ignoring the buildup of our unnecessary waste in landfills just because we don’t live near them. What’s out of sight should not be out of mind.

How Fast Fashion Hurts the Planet Through Pollution and Waste

Summary: The fashion industry is considered one of the largest polluters of our planet. The industry causes 10% of carbon emissions and is the second-largest consumer of our global water supply. Moreover, it is a significant polluter of our oceans. This article explains the most impactful environmental effects of fast fashion and clothing production by highlighting key statistics and facts.

Significance: As a fashion major with a passion for sustainability, I have always paid close attention to the impacts of the industry. With the ever-changing behavior of consumers, it is essential to draw attention to the effects of fast fashion. Although fast fashion was and still is a favored category of clothing, I believe that people will be more aware of its downsides if they become more aware of its impacts. In turn, with greater awareness, this might help consumers to think more about their purchasing decisions and to buy sustainability. While consumers are already shifting to place a greater emphasis on social and environmental responsibility in retail, there is still a lot of change that needs to happen. So I chose this article because I would like there to raise more awareness about retail and help consumers understand where the clothes come from and what the impact of creating those clothes is.

In Oregon Wine Country, One Farmer's Battle to Save the Soil

Summary: This article follows wine producer Mimi Casteelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crusade for regenerative agriculture, a farming method that emphasizes rebuilding, restoring, and supporting organic matter that makes up healthy soils. According to this article, agriculture is responsible for roughly a quarter of

greenhouse gas emissions every year, and could potentially play a key role in combating climate change through CO2 regulation. From Casteelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, modern agriculture focuses too heavily on cash crops, which can result in desertification. Ms. Casteel hopes to restore the natural balance of agriculture by avoiding the disruption of the natural cycles of the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources and animal pathways. This is difficult because this would require us to change age-old methods of farming, such as tilling and plowing the Earth.

Significance: I chose this article primarily because we face the threat of not growing enough resources to support the current population. Our continuously increasing population forces us to overfarm the land just for short-term benefits, and our wasteful habits only exacerbates the situation. Without sustainable practices, our current patterns of food production and consumption simply cannot be maintained. To remedy this, we will need large-scale changes in the attitudes we have towards food production and sustainable agriculture.

Interested in learning more? Connect with us at the links below! Thanks for reading.

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Sara Choi <sc2492@cornell.edu>

Cornell Oceanography Class Newsletter #2 1 message Ocean-L@cornell.edu <Ocean-L@cornell.edu> Reply-To: "Bruce C. Monger" <bcm3@cornell.edu> To: OCEAN-L <OCEAN-L@list.cornell.edu>

Tue, Nov 12, 2019 at 5:07 PM

Hi All — Here is another installment (Issue #2) of the Cornell Oceanography Newsletter that is put together by this year’s Undergraduate TAs with contributions from some students in the class. Thanks to all who made a contribution!!!

Kind Regards Bruce

Welcome to the Cornell Oceanography newsletter! The Oceanography Undergraduate TAs and student contributors have compiled stories and news about pertinent environmental matters for you here. Happy reading!

— Sara, Editor-in-Chief

Global Environment: The Ocean California's Crashing Kelp Forest

Summary & Significance: This article details the many factors, both climate and anthropogenic driven, that are causing California’s kelp forests to deteriorate. With a loss of predators and higher than usual El Nino temperatures, the purple sea urchin population exploded and has been ravaging the kelp beds that are home to many organisms and provide ecosystem benefits. I thought this article was interesting because it proposed the solution of creating “urchin ranches” to encourage seafood sustainability and habitat restoration for this ecosystem in dire straits.

Submitted by Serina Moheed

New Seismic Phenomenon Discovered, Named Stormquakes

Summary & Significance: This article connects the fields of oceanography, seismology, and meteorology for a truly fascinating story. A team of scientists led by University of Florida published an article in Geophysical Research Letters about small “earthquakes” on the continental shelf that appear to coincide with large hurricanes and ocean storms. For example, Hurricane Bill in 2009 produced such a phenomenon. How exactly these storms result in low-grade seismicity is still under investigation, along with why these “stormquakes” are not produced by every ocean storm.

Submitted by Samantha Moruzzi

Climate Change In the Fight Against Climate Change, Not All Forests Are Equal

Summary & Significance: The article talks about how we as humans make an effort to treat the ongoing deforestation that has already occurred, instead of trying to preserve the unaffected forests. I thought this was interesting since humans tend to not realize what they have until they lose it.

Submitted by Eunice Cho

Coral Tracking Satellites Monitor Reef Bleaching in Near Real Time

Summary & Significance: This article details the benefits of technology, specifically remote sensing technology, to track and monitor coral bleaching. Scientists in this article are specifically targeting the reefs off the coast of Hawaii, which have been affected by a major marine heat wave that began in August. The satellite project is a team event with researchers from both Hawaii and Arizona State University joined by companies in San Francisco and Seattle. The project will provide higher spatial and temporal resolution than any other satellite project that was designed to monitor coral reefs. The goal is to use data retrieved from the project to help governments and scientists predict and minimize the damages caused by major bleaching events.

Submitted by Samantha Moruzzi

Emergence of Deadly Virus In Marine Animals Linked to Melting Arctic Sea Ice

Summary & Significance: This article is about the spread of Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) among marine mammals, most notably seals. The melting of Arctic sea ice has allowed seals to be able to physically move between geographic ranges, making spread of pathogens more likely.

Over a 15 year period, this study analyzed multiple marine mammal species and open water paths and the results showed that years with an increase in PDV coincided with years of maximum sea ice loss. I thought this article was interesting because it demonstrates another reason we should be wary of widespread sea ice loss besides rising sea levels.

Submitted by Serina Moheed

Sustainability One Thing You Can Do: Smarter Laundry

Summary & Significance: A good way to become more conscious of your carbon footprint is to look at laundry habits. Because we pay for each load of laundry, many of us try to do full loads to maximize the amount of clothing we can wash on a single card swipe. However, we can do more for the environment by washing on the tap cold setting to reduce carbon emissions and microplastic pollution. Dryers use even more energy than a washing machine, so while it may be impractical for busy students to dry clothes on a clothesline (especially in the Ithaca winter), doing full loads in the dryer instead of splitting them up "just in case" will make a difference if we all do our part.

Submitted by Sara Choi

Interested in learning more? Connect with us at the links below! Thanks for reading.

To LEAVE the Cornell Oceanography e-list: send an email message to ocean-L-request@cornell.edu and leave the subject line blank. The body of the message should be the single word: leave.

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Sara Choi <sc2492@cornell.edu>

Cornell Oceanography Class Newsletter #3 1 message Ocean-L@cornell.edu <Ocean-L@cornell.edu> Reply-To: "Bruce C. Monger" <bcm3@cornell.edu> To: OCEAN-L <OCEAN-L@list.cornell.edu>

Welcome to the last Cornell Oceanography newsletter of the semester! Take a break from studying for finals and read some of the environmental news stories compiled by the Undergraduate TAs and student contributors. Good luck with exams and enjoy the holidays! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sara, Editor-in-Chief

Global Environment & Climate Change How to Halt Global Warming for $300 Billion

Summary & Significance: I chose this article because it is important to know how much the efforts to revert the damage of global warming costs. While it is easy and free to add to global warming, it is extremely expensive to fix the issues without even having the certainty that the efforts will be successful. In the article, it also mentions that all this money would stabilize global warming for only 15-20 years. This shows how we should all make an effort to make lifestyle changes to protect us and the economy.

Fri, Dec 6, 2019 at 1:28 PM

Submitted by Eunice Cho

In a Climate Emergency, There Must Be Compensation for Victims

Summary & Significance: This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual climate talks faces a very important decision that will be a reflection on whether the UN climate process is still fit for purpose. With impacts spreading, declarations of climate emergency are worthless unless those making them help the afflicted.

Submitted by Jenny Li

Sustainability How Giving Legal Rights to Nature Could Help Reduce Toxic Algae Blooms in Lake Erie

Summary & Significance: Rights of Nature laws generally are designed to improve environmental protection and encourage people to rethink their relationship to the environment.

Instead of viewing nature as a commodity that exists for humans to use, and abuse, these statutes consider nature as important for its own sake.

Submitted by Jinge Li

Big Plans to Save the Planet Depend on Nanoscopic Materials Improving Energy Storage

Summary & Significance: Scientists present a comprehensive analysis of two decades of energy storage research involving nanomaterials. The authors lay out a roadmap for how this technology can enable the world's urgent shift toward better energy storage devices and sustainability.

Submitted by Suri Dong

Emissions & Pollution Global Emissions Will Hit Another Record High This Year Despite a Slowdown in Coal Use

Summary & Significance: Carbon dioxide emissions are expected to reach another record high this year, a new report found Wednesday, with scientists warning the world is losing time to make the drastic reductions needed to avert a climate catastrophe. Reducing emissions, particularly

from transport and a faster transition to green energy is crucial to get emissions under control and save thousands of lives from pollution.

Submitted by Shichao Fang

A Whopping 91 Percent of Plastic Isn't Recycled

Summary & Significance: Mass production of plastics, which began just six decades ago, has accelerated so rapidly that it has created 8.3 billion metric tonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;most of it in disposable products that end up as trash. If that seems like an incomprehensible quantity, it is. Even the scientists who set out to conduct the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first tally of how much plastic has been produced, discarded, burned or put in landfills, were horrified by the sheer size of the numbers.

Submitted by Cicy Kwon

Interested in learning more? Connect with us at the links below! Thanks for reading.

To LEAVE the Cornell Oceanography e-list: send an email message to ocean-L-request@cornell.edu and leave the subject line blank. The body of the message should be the single word: leave.

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