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Top scientists from different continents gathered on Tuesday in Panaji to exchange information on global warming, with reference to the Indian Ocean region and its consequent impact on the rim countries.
They were participating in a 4-day international workshop on 'Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemical and Ecological Research' that began in Panaji under the ageis of the prestigious National Institute of Oceanography as part of celebrating its 40th anniversary.
It was sponsored among others by the US National Science Foundation, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, Perth; Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research and Global Ocean Observing System for Indian Ocean.
About 70 foreign delegates from 17 countries including the USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan and Indonesia and 80 delegates from different parts of the country are participating in the workshop, which was inaugurated by Governor S C Jamir.
Scientists told UNI that the workshop would facilitate exchange of information on inter-relationship between biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems, and quantify and predict responses of the marine system to natural and anthropogenic perturbations.
The most worrying aspect was increase of carbon dioxide content from 280 parts per million in the pre-industrial revolution era to a whoooping 380 PPM now with increased use of fossil fuels and other resources impacting the atmospheric cycle.
The interaction was expected to increase the ability of the scientists to enhance and predict the consequences of global change on ocean food webs and biogeochemistry by examining the potential synergistic and antagonistic effects of changes in key variables.
They include study of the sensitivity to climate, acidification, nutrient supply and harvesting of marine living resources.
Modelling the potential feedbacks from marine biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems to the earth system will require detailed understanding of local and regional manifestations of global change in the ocean and their interactions with other parts of the earth system.
The workshop is expected to provide a platform for launching an international initiative for investigating how human induced climatic and environmental changes will impact the physical and biogeochemical processes in the Indian Ocean, which in turn further fuels global warming itself.
In the inaugural session, Governor S C Jamir urged the scientists to explore the oceans through research for exploitation of marine resources with land resources fast diminishing due to increased human activity.
Expressing concern over depleting natural oxygen in waters along the west coast and increase of hydrogen sulphide in sea water 10 km away the coast, the governor asked the scientists to help mitigate the situation so that the economy of the west coast, particularly Goa does not get affected.
He wished that the workshop would lead to another major global initiative in the Indian Ocean like the Indian Ocean Expedition in 1960's and Joint Global Ocean Flux Studies in 1990's to help predict climates so that the states like Goa could formulate its developmental plans accordingly.
Prominent among those present included NIO director Dr Satish Shetye who explained various aspects of the workshop.