The Southern Ocean upwelling is a mecca for whales and tuna that’s worth celebrating and protecting

Mon, 8 Apr 2024 19:18:48 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-southern-ocean-upwelling-is-a-mecca-for-whales-and-tuna-thats-worth-celebrating-and-protecting-223338>

"The Great Southern Australian Coastal Upwelling System is an upward current of
water over vast distances along Australia’s southern coast. It brings nutrients
from deeper waters to the surface. This nutrient-rich water supports a rich
ecosystem that attracts iconic species like the southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus
maccoyii
) and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda).

The environmental importance of the upwelling is one reason the federal
government this week declared a much-reduced zone for offshore wind turbines in
the region. The zone covers one-fifth of the area originally proposed.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of a research publication that revealed
the existence of the large seasonal upwelling system along Australia’s southern
coastal shelves. Based on over 20 years of scientific study, we can now answer
many critical questions.

How does this upwelling work? How can it be identified? Which marine species
benefit from the upwelling? Does the changing climate affect the system?"

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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