Oxygen is critical to the health of the planet. It affects the cycles of carbon, nitrogen and other key elements, and is a fundamental requirement for marine life from the seashore to the greatest depths of the ocean. Nevertheless, deoxygenation, the reduction of oxygen, is worsening in the coastal and open ocean. This is mainly the result of human activities that are increasing global temperatures (CO2-induced warming) and increasing loads of nutrients from agriculture, sewage, and industrial waste, including pollution from power generation from fossil fuels and biomass.
Our work on Deoxygenation
The Global Ocean Oxygen Network – IOC working group: The Network’s scientific work, outreach, and capacity building efforts include facilitating communication with other established networks and working groups (e.g. IOCCP, GOOS, IGMETS, GOA-ON, GlobalHAB, WESTPAC O2NE), improving observations systems, identifying and filling knowledge gaps, as well as developing related capacity development activities. GO2NE is moreover preparing a summary on deoxygenation for policy makers.
In collaboration with SFB754, it recently initiated the news site ocean-oxygen.org to provide information on deoxygenation to scientists, stakeholders and the interested public.
Useful links:
GO2NE 2018, IOC Technical Series 137, The Ocean is losing its breath: declining oxygen in the world's ocean and coastal waters; summary for policy makers
Ocean Oxygen News
Kiel Declaration