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Scientists Say Save Our Seas
Newcastle - Jul 2, 2003 Humans are posing some of the biggest threats yet to Europe's marine environment, according to an international group of leading scientists who have compiled the first ever report * covering all of the continent's seas. The report, which spans the Baltic, North, Irish, Black and Mediterranean seas, and other areas of the North East Atlantic, was carried out by the marine advisory body, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), for the European Union. One of the report's principal authors, Dr. Chris Frid, a research scientist with the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, says it gives an overview of the human impact on marine ecosystems, covering aspects such as climate change, fishing and contamination by chemicals. The report pulls together a wide range of information about the marine environment, including findings of research by various international bodies, including the ICES, and will feed into the development of a European strategy for the seas.
Key findings include: Mercury pollution is on the increase in the Arctic, which may be due to increased emissions in Asia, where coal is burnt to provide electricity and heat. The report also outlines how previous environmental problems have been dealt with successfully and points to existing and potential areas that need attention. Dr. Frid, of Newcastle University's School of Marine Science and Technology, said: "This report provides a comprehensive and broad picture of the state of Europe's seas. It therefore allows us to see the relative impact of fishing, pollution and climate change and so plan where we need to invest resources in the future. Clearly are efforts to clean up the North Sea of chemical pollution have brought about considerable improvement but we have a growing pollution problem in Arctic waters, while in the North Sea we have major problems with our fisheries and the longer term changes which will follow from climate change." "The most significant aspect of this report is not the contents but the fact that it is written for a wide audience. This is no dry technical document � it is a colourful well illustrated and provoking account that will for the first time inform the citizens of Europe about the state of their seas. This means that we can all take part in the discussions which will lead to the production of a European Marine Strategy, a plan of how we wish to see our seas in the future." The ICES is the independent, intergovernmental scientific body which is the main provider of scientific advice on fisheries and environment issues in the North East Atlantic and adjacent seas.
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Magnetic Reconnection Region Larger Than 2.5 Million Km Found In The Solar Wind
Paris (ESA) Jan 12, 2006Using the ESA Cluster spacecraft and the NASA Wind and ACE satellites, a team of American and European scientists have discovered the largest jets of particles created between the Earth and the Sun by magnetic reconnection. This result makes the cover of this week's issue of Nature. |
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