Scientists Study How Ocean Seagrasses Can Fight Climate Change

 

Scientists say ocean seagrasses can be a valuable tool in fighting climate change. But many of these plants are being harmed by pollution linked to human activities such as mining and fishing.

In March, scientists went on an expedition to an area in the Indian Ocean thought to contain the largest field of underwater seagrass in the world. The team collected data to learn more about what affects the health of seagrasses.

Studies have shown that a big benefit of seagrass is that it can store up to two times the amount of carbon that forests do.

If seagrasses can stay healthy and grow, they can remove carbon dioxide, or CO2, from the environment. CO2 is one kind of greenhouse¹ gas that scientists have linked to rising temperatures in Earth's atmosphere.

The Indian Ocean expedition, led by environmental group Greenpeace, traveled to Saya de Malha near the island nation of Seychelles.

The field of seagrass at Saya de Malha is about the size of the European nation of Switzerland. Because the area is far from coastlines, it has stayed well protected from pollution and digging activities that can harm sea life. The seagrasses are also closer to the surface, meaning they take in more sunlight. This environment provides shelter and rich feeding grounds for thousands of different ocean creatures.

Among those taking part in the expedition were scientists from Britain's Exeter University. They say they were able to collect some of the first field data on the area's wildlife, including its little-studied seagrass beds. The team gathered up pieces of grass floating in the water to examine later in the laboratory².

It is not yet known how much carbon is being stored in Saya de Malha. But experts estimate³ that worldwide, the root systems of seagrasses trap more than 10 percent of the carbon buried in ocean sediment⁴ per year.

Dimos Traganos is the lead scientist on a German Aerospace⁵ Center project developing software to improve seagrass searches using satellite images and other data. He told Reuters the carbon-storing abilities of seagrass has "massive⁶ implications⁸" for worldwide efforts to limit climate change. "We are in such an exciting period," he said.

Researchers with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimate seagrasses cover more than 300,000 square kilometers. They are spread across all continents except for Antarctica.

The UNEP says that about every 30 minutes, human activity is helping⁹ to destroy seagrass areas about the same size of a soccer field. Scientists are now attempting to find out the current state of the world's seagrasses.

Some areas studied demonstrate¹⁰ the harm that human activities can cause. One study suggested that pollution from mining and damage by fisheries may have helped destroy 92 percent of mainland¹¹ Britain's seagrasses over a century. The study was published in March in Frontiers¹² in Plant Science.

This year, Seychelles began looking at its coastal¹³ seagrass carbon supply for the first time. And at least 10 countries have said seagrasses would play a part in their climate action plans, the UNEP says.

Seychelles and Mauritius, which have joint¹⁴ control over the Saya de Malha's seabed, should take steps to count and care for the wealth of seagrasses in the area, said James Michel. He served as president of the Seychelles for 12 years until 2016.

Michel added: "Then we'll be in a better position to know how to not only preserve it, but also to manage it to ensure that it is protected for the future.

Words in This Story

expedition – n. a trip undertaken by a group of people for a purpose

benefit – n. a helpful or good effect

greenhouse gas – n. gases that cause a warming of the Earth's atmosphere

sediment – n. materials that collect at the bottom of a liquid

implication⁷ – n. a result or effect

preserve – v. to keep something safe from harm; to protect

manage – v. to have control of something, such as a business, department, organization, etc.

1 greenhouse   

n.花房，温室，玻璃暖房

参考例句：

• Behind the green house was a greenhouse.在那所绿房子后面是一个花房。
• The tomatoes were grown in the greenhouse.这些西红柿是在温室栽培的。

2 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

3 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

4 sediment   

n.沉淀，沉渣，沉积(物)

参考例句：

• The sediment settled and the water was clear.杂质沉淀后，水变清了。
• Sediment begins to choke the channel's opening.沉积物开始淤塞河道口。

5 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

6 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。

7 implication   

n.含意，暗示；牵连，涉及，卷入

参考例句：

• He smiled,with the implication that he didn't believe me.他微笑了，暗示着不相信我。
• He has not actually realized the full implication.他还没有真正认识到全部含义。

8 implications   

n. 暗示，含意，牵连，卷入

参考例句：

• The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside. 这个地点的开发将会影响周围的乡村。
• The research has far-reaching implications for medicine as a whole. 这项研究对整个医学界都有着深远的影响。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

11 mainland   

n.大陆，本土

参考例句：

• The new bridge will link the island to the mainland.新的桥梁将把该岛与大陆连接在一起。
• Hong Kong's prosperity relies heavily on mainland.香港的繁荣在很大程度上依赖于大陆。

12 frontiers   

边界( frontier的名词复数 )； 边境； 开发地区的边缘； 尚待开发的领域

参考例句：

• Human acts have repercussions far beyond the frontiers of the human world. 人类行为所产生的影响远远超出人类世界的范围。
• They are highly interested in the frontiers of science. 他们对于科学的新领域有浓厚的兴趣。

13 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

14 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。