GeoGarage blog

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

UK & misc. update in the Marine GeoGarage

Today 956 charts (1822 including sub-charts) are available in the 'UK & misc.' chart layer

regrouping charts for different countries :

UK
Argentina
Belgium
Netherlands
Croatia
Oman
Portugal
Spain
Iceland
South Africa
Malta

646 charts for UK

9 charts for Argentina :

226 International Chart Series, Antarctica - South Shetlands Islands, Deception Island.
227 Church Point to Cape Longing including James Ross Island
2505 Approaches to the Falkland Islands
2517 North-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
2519 South-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
3213 Plans in Graham Land
3560 Gerlache Strait Northern Part
3566 Gerlache Strait Southern Part
4207 Falkland Islands to Cabo Corrientes and Northeast Georgia Rise

27 charts for Belgium & Nederlands :

99 Entrances to Rivers in Guyana and Suriname
110 Westkapelle to Stellendam and Maasvlakte
112 Terschellinger Gronden to Harlingen
120 Westerschelde - Vlissingen to Baalhoek and Gent - Terneuzen Canal
122 Approaches to Europoort and Hoek van Holland
124 Noordzeekanaal including Ijmuiden, Zaandam and Amsterdam
125 North Sea Netherlands - Approaches to Scheveningen and Ijmuiden
126 North Sea, Netherlands, Approaches to Den Helder
128 Westerschelde, Valkenisse to Wintam
207 Hoek Van Holland to Vlaardingen
208 Rotterdam, Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas
209 Krimpen a/d Lek to Moerdijk
266 North Sea Offshore Charts Sheet 11
572 Essequibo River to Corentyn River
702 Nederlandse Antillen, Aruba and Curacao
1187 Outer Silver Pit
1408 North Sea, Harwich and Rotterdam to Cromer and Terschelling.
1412 Caribbean Sea - Nederlandse Antillen, Ports in Aruba and Curacao
1414 Bonaire
1503 Outer Dowsing to Smiths Knoll including Indefatigable Banks.
1504 Cromer to Orford Ness
1546 Zeegat van Texel and Den Helder Roads
1630 West Hinder and Outer Gabbard to Vlissingen and Scheveningen
1631 DW Routes to Ijmuiden and Texel
1632 DW Routes and Friesland Junction to Vlieland
1874 North Sea, Westerschelde, Oostende to Westkapelle
2047 Approaches to Anguilla

14 charts for Croatia :

201 Rt Kamenjak to Novigrad
202 Kvarner, Kvarneric and Velebitski Kanal
269 Ploce and Split with Adjacent Harbours, Channels and Anchorages
515 Zadar to Luka Mali Losinj
683 Bar, Dubrovnik and Approaches and Peljeski Kanal
1574 Otok Glavat to Ploce and Makarska
1580 Otocic Veliki Skolj to Otocic Glavat
1582 Approaches to Bar and Boka Kotorska
1996 Ports in Rijecki Zaljev
2711 Rogoznica to Zadar
2712 Otok Susac to Split
2719 Rt Marlera to Senj including Approaches to Rijeka
2773 Sibenik, Pasmanski Kanal, Luka Telascica, Sedmovrace, Rijeka Krka
2774 Otok Vis to Sibenik

6 charts for Oman :

2851 Masirah to the Strait of Hormuz
2854 Northern approaches to Masirah
3171 Southern Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
3409 Plans in Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates
3511 Wudam and Approaches
3518 Ports and Anchorages on the North East Coast of Oman

124 charts for Spain & Portugal :

73 Puerto de Huelva and Approaches
83 Ports on the South Coast of Portugal
85 Spain - south west coast, Rio Guadalquivir
86 Bahia de Cadiz
87 Cabo Finisterre to the Strait of Gibraltar
88 Cadiz
89 Cabo de Sao Vicente to Faro
91 Cabo de Sao Vicente to the Strait of Gibraltar
93 Cabo de Santa Maria to Cabo Trafalgar
142 Strait of Gibraltar
144 Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar
307 Angola, Cabeca da Cobra to Cabo Ledo
308 Angola, Cabo Ledo to Lobito
309 Lobito to Ponta Grossa
312 Luanda to Baia dos Tigres
366 Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
369 Plans in the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
469 Alicante
473 Approaches to Alicante
518 Spain East Coast, Approaches to Valencia
562 Mediterranean Sea, Spain - East Coast Valencia
580 Al Hoceima, Melilla and Port Nador with Approaches
659 Angola, Port of Soyo and Approaches NEW
690 Cabo Delgado to Mikindani Bay
886 Estrecho de la Bocayna and Approaches to Arrecife
1094 Rias de Ferrol, Ares, Betanzos and La Coruna
1096 Ribadeo
1110 La Coruna and Approaches
1111 Punta de la Estaca de Bares to Cabo Finisterre
1113 Harbours on the North-West Coast of Spain
1117 Puerto de Ferrol
1118 Ria de Ferrol
1122 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
1133 Ports on the Western Part of the North Coast of Spain
1142 Ria de Aviles
1145 Spain - North Coast, Santander
1150 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
1153 Approaches to Gijon
1154 Spain, north coast, Gijon
1157 Pasaia (Pasajes) and Approaches
1172 Puertos de Bermeo and Mundaka
1173 Spain - North Coast, Bilbao
1174 Approaches to Bilbao
1180 Barcelona
1189 Approaches to Cartagena
1193 Spain - east coast, Tarragona
1194 Cartagena
1196 Approaches to Barcelona
1197 Plans on the West Coast of Africa
1215 Plans on the Coast of Angola
1216 Baia dos Tigres
1290 Cabo de San Lorenzo to Cabo Ortegal
1291 Santona to Gijon
1448 Gibraltar Bay
1453 Gandia
1455 Algeciras
1460 Sagunto
1514 Spain - East Coast, Castellon
1515 Ports on the East Coast of Spain
1589 Almeria
1595 Ilhas do Principe, de Sao Tome and Isla Pagalu
1684 Ilha da Madeira, Manchico and Canical
1685 Nisis Venetico to Nisos Spetsai including the Channels between Akra Maleas and Kriti
1689 Ports in the Arquipelago da Madeira
1701 Cabo de San Antonio to Vilanova I la Geltru including Islas de Ibiza and Formentera
1703 Mallorca and Menorca
1704 Punta de la Bana to Islas Medas
1724 Canal do Geba and Bissau
1726 Approaches to Canal do Geba and Rio Cacheu
1727 Bolama and Approaches
1730 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Vigo
1731 Vigo
1732 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Pontevedra
1733 Spain - West Coast, Marin and Pontevedra
1734 Approaches to Ria de Arousa
1740 Livingston Island, Bond Point to Brunow Bay including Juan Carlos 1 Base and Half Moon Island
1755 Plans in Ria de Arousa
1756 Ria de Muros
1762 Vilagarcia de Arosa
1764 Ria de Arousa
1831 Arquipelago da Madeira
1847 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
1850 Approaches to Malaga
1851 Malaga
1854 Motril and Adra
1856 Approaches to Puerto de La Luz (Las Palmas)
1858 Approaches to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de San Sebastian de la Gomera, Santa Cruz de la Palma and Approaches
1869 Gran Canaria to Hierro
1870 Lanzarote to Gran Canaria
1895 Ilha de Sao Miguel
1950 Arquipelago dos Acores
1956 Arquipelago dos Acores Central Group
1957 Harbours in the Arquipelago Dos Acores (Central Group)
1959 Flores,Corvo and Santa Maria with Banco Das Formigas
2742 Cueta
2761 Menorca
2762 Menorca, Mahon
2831 Punta Salinas to Cabo de Formentor including Canal de Menorca
2832 Punta Salinas to Punta Beca including Isla de Cabrera
2834 Ibiza and Formentera
2932 Cabo de Sao Sebastiao to Beira
2934 Africa - east coast, Mozambique, Beira to Rio Zambeze
2935 Quelimane to Ilha Epidendron
3034 Approaches to Palma
3035 Palma
3220 Entrance to Rio Tejo including Baia de Cascais
3221 Lisboa, Paco de Arcos to Terreiro do Trigo
3222 Lisboa, Alcantara to Canal do Montijo
3224 Approaches to Sines
3227 Aveiro and Approaches
3228 Approaches to Figueira da Foz
3257 Viana do Castelo and Approaches
3258 Approaches to Leixoes and Barra do Rio Douro
3259 Approaches to Setubal
3260 Carraca to Ilha do Cavalo
3448 Plans in Angola
3578 Eastern Approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar
3633 Islas Sisargas to Montedor
3634 Montedor to Cabo Mondego
3635 Cabo Mondego to Cabo Espichel
3636 Cabo Espichel to Cabo de Sao Vicente
3764 Cabo Torinana to Punta Carreiro
4114 Arquipelago dos Acores to Flemish Cap
4115 Arquipelago dos Acores to the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
Ilha de Madeira, Ponta Gorda de Sao Lourenco including the Port of Funchal

13 charts for Iceland :

2733 Dyrholaey to Snaefellsjokull
2734 Approaches to Reykjavik
2735 Iceland - South West Coast, Reykjavik
2897 Iceland
2898 Vestfirdir
2899 Iceland, Noth Coast, Horn to Rauoinupur
2900 Iceland, North East Coast, Rauoinupur to Glettinganes
2901 Iceland, East Coast, Glettinganes to Stokksnes
2902 Stokksnes to Dyrholaey
2955 Iceland, North Coast, Akureyri
2956 Iceland, North Coast, Eyjafjordur
2937 Hlada to Glettinganes
2938 Reydarfjordur

47 charts for South Africa :

578 Cape Columbine to Cape Seal
632 Hollandsbird Island to Cape Columbine
643 Durban Harbour
1236 Saldanha Bay
1769 Islands and Anchorages in the South Atlantic Ocean
1806 Baia dos Tigres to Conception Bay
1846 Table Bay Docks and Approaches
1922 RSA - Simon's Bay
2078 Port Nolloth to Island Point
2086 East London to Port S Johns
2087 Port St John's to Durban
2088 Durban to Cape Vidal
2095 Cape St Blaize to Port S. John's
3793 Shixini Point to Port S Johns
3794 Port S Johns to Port Shepstone
3795 Port Shepstone to Cooper Light
3797 Green Point to Tongaat Bluff
3859 Cape Cross to Conception Bay
3860 Mutzel Bay to Spencer Bay
3861 Namibia, Approaches to Luderitz
3869 Hottentot Point to Chamais Bay
3870 Chamais Bay to Port Nolloth
4132 Kunene River to Sand Table Hill
4133 Sand Table Hill to Cape Cross
4136 Harbours on the West Coasts of Namibia and South Africa
4141 Island Point to Cape Deseada
4142 Saldanha Bay Harbour
4145 Approaches to Saldanha Bay
4146 Cape Columbine to Table Bay
4148 Approaches to Table Bay
4150 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Valsbaai
4151 Cape Deseada to Table Bay
4152 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Cape Agulhas
4153 Republic of South Africa, South Coast, Cape Agulhas to Cape St. Blaize
4154 Mossel Bay
4155 Cape St Blaize to Cape St Francis
4156 South Africa, Cape St Francis to Great Fish Point
4157 South Africa, Approaches to Port Elizabeth
4158 Republic of South Africa - South Coast, Plans in Algoa Bay.
4159 Great Fish Point to Mbashe Point
4160 Ngqura Harbour
4162 Approaches to East London
4170 Approaches to Durban
4172 Tugela River to Ponta do Ouro
4173 Approaches to Richards Bay
4174 Richards Bay Harbour
4205 Agulhas Plateau to Discovery Seamounts

5 charts for Malta :

36 Marsaxlokk
177 Valletta Harbours
211 Plans in the Maltese Islands
2537 Ghawdex (Gozo), Kemmuna (Comino) and the Northern Part of Malta
2538 Malta

65 international charts from NGA

3 Chagos Archipelago
82 Outer Approaches to Port Sudan
100 Raas Caseyr to Suqutra
255 Eastern Approaches to Jamaica
256 Western Approaches to Jamaica
260 Pedro Bank to the South Coast of Jamaica
333 Offshore Installations in the Gulf of Suez
334 North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda
386 Yadua Island to Yaqaga Island
390 Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island, Approaches to Freeport
398 Grand Bahama Island, Freeport Roads, Freeport Harbour
457 Portland Bight
462 The Cayman Islands
486 Jamaica and the Pedro Bank
501 South East Approaches to Trinidad
666 Port Mombasa including Port Kilindini and Port Reitz
700 Maiana to Marakei
766 Ellice Islands
868 Eastern and Western Approaches to The Narrows including Murray's Anchorage
920 Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia
928 Sulu Archipelago
959 Colson Point to Belize City including Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Islands
1043 Saint Lucia to Grenada and Barbados
1225 Gulf of Campeche
1265 Approaches to Shatt Al 'Arab or Arvand Rud, Khawr Al Amaya and Khawr Al Kafka
1450 Turks and Caicos Islands, Turks Island Passage and Mouchoir Passage
1638 Plans in Northern Vanuatu
2006 West Indies, Virgin Islands, Anegada to Saint Thomas
2009 Sheet 2 From 23 deg 40 min North Latitude to Old Bahama Channel
2065 Northern Antigua
2133 Approaches to Suez Bay (Bahr el Qulzum)
2373 Bahr el Qulzum (Suez Bay) to Ras Sheratib
2374 Ra's Sharatib to Juzur Ashrafi
2441 Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg to Jazireh-ye Forur
2658 Outer Approaches to Mina` al Jeddah (Jiddah)
2837 Strait of Hormuz to Qatar
2847 Qatar to Shatt al `Arab
2887 Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-Ye Qeshm to Jazirat Halul
2888 Jask to Dubayy and Jazireh-ye Qeshm
2889 Dubayy to Jabal Az Zannah and Jazirat Das
3043 Red Sea, Ports on the coast of Egypt.
3102 Takoradi and Sekondi Bays
3172 Strait of Hormuz
3174 Western Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
3175 Jazirat al Hamra' to Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-ye Sirri
3179 UAE and Qatar, Jazirat Das to Ar Ru' Ays
3310 Africa - east coast, Mafia Island to Pemba Island
3361 Wasin Island to Malindi
3432 Saltpond to Tema
3493 Red Sea - Sudan, Bashayer Oil Terminals and Approaches.
3519 Southern Approaches to Masirah
3520 Khawr Kalba and Dawhat Diba to Gahha Shoal
3522 Approaches to Masqat and Mina' al Fahl
3530 Approaches to Berbera
3709 Gulf of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Port of Fujairah (Fujayrah) and Offshore Terminals.
3723 Gulf of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Approaches to Khawr Fakkan and Fujairah (Fujayrah).
3775 Ra's Abu `Ali to Ra's as Saffaniyah
3785 Mina' Raysut to Al Masirah
3907 Bahama Islands and Hispaniola, Passages between Mayaguana Island and Turks and Caicos Islands.
3908 Passages between Turks and Caicos Islands and Dominican Republic
3910 Little Bahama Bank including North West Providence Channel
3912 Bahamas, North East Providence Channel and Tongue of the Ocean
3913 Bahamas, Crooked Island Passage and Exuma Sound
3914 Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas, Caicos Passage and Mayaguana Passage
3951 Sir Bani Yas to Khawr al `Udayd

Don't forget to visit the UKHO Notices to Mariners : NTM for 2012

So today, for a cost of 9.9 € / month ('Premium Charts' subscription), you can have access to 2588 additional updated charts (4332 including sub-charts) coming from 3 international Hydrographic Services (UKHO, CHS, AHS and France).

NZ Linz update in the Marine GeoGarage

6324 Akaroa Harbour

6 charts have been updated in the Marine GeoGarage

(Linz March & April update published April 11 / May 4, 2012)

NZ45 Cape Egmont to Rangitikei River
NZ61 Karamea River to Stephens Island
NZ463 Approaches to Wellington
NZ6321 Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupo : Port of Lyttelton
NZ6324 Akaroa Harbour
NZ14638 Fiji to Kermadec Islands including Tongatapu

Today NZ Linz charts (178 charts / 340 including sub-charts) are displayed in the Marine GeoGarage.

Note : LINZ produces official nautical charts to aid safe navigation in New Zealand waters and certain areas of Antarctica and the South-West Pacific.

Using charts safely involves keeping them up-to-date using Notices to Mariners

Brazil DHN update in the Marine GeoGarage

new charts for rio Paraguai

21 charts have been added and 17 have been updated
(DHN update March 9st, 2012 / April 10/11th 2012)

1 COSTA E ILHAS AO LARGO
1420 PROXIMIDADES DE BARRA DO RIACHO
23200 DE SANTOS A PARANAGUÁ
23600 DO RIO GRANDE AO ARROIO CHUÍ

50 DO RIO PARNAÍBA AO RECIFE
202 DA ILHA DO BAILIQUE À PONTA DO CAPINAL
316 DE MOSQUEIRO A BELÉM
515 PORTO DE LUIS CORREIA
1104 BAÍA DE TODOS OS SANTOS PARTE NORDESTE
1106 BAIA DE TODOS OS SANTOS PARTE NORTE
1310 CANAL DOS ABROLHOS E PROXIMIDADES
1401 PORTOS DE VITORIA E TUBARÃO
1506 PROXIMIDADE DA BAÍA DE GUANABARA
1515 BAÍA DE GUANABARA - ILHA DO MOCANGUÊ E PROXIMIDADES
1607 BAÍAS DA ILHA GRANDE E DE SEPETIBA
1623 PORTO DE ITAGUAÍ
1633 BAÍA DA ILHA GRANDE PARTE OESTE
1636 PORTO DE ANGRA DOS REIS E PROXIMIDADES
1637 BAÍA DA RIBEIRA
1801 PORTO DE ITAJAÍ
1830 PROXIMIDADES DO PORTO DE SÃO FRANCISCO DO SUL
2210 COSTA DO ALBARDAO - CANAL DA ALVARENGA
19002 DA AMERICA A AFRICA DO SUL
23000 DO CABO DE SÃO TOME AO RIO DE JANEIRO
3337 DA ILHA MARGARITA A ILHA DO TIGRE OU DA ONÇA
3342 DE FORTE OLIMPO AO PASSO CURUCU CANCHA
3399 LAGOA GAÍVA DA BOCA DO CARANDÁ A BOCA BRAVA
3400 LAGOA GAÍVA - VOLTA DO CACHORRO E VOLTA DO GATAS
3402 DA BOCA DA ANTA A VOLTA DA PRAINHA INFERIOR
3406 DO ESTIRÃO INFERIOR DA BOCA DO CARÁ-CARÁ A VOLTA IGUAL INFERIOR
3419 DO ESTIRÃO DO SAPIQUÁ AO ESTIRÃO DA TAQUAREIRA
3420 DO ESTIRÃO DA TAQUAREIRA À VOLTA DO BUGIO
3424 DA VOLTA DO SINIMBU AO PASSO PIUVA
3425 DA BOCA DA PIUVA AO PASSO JATOBÁ
3426 DA BOCA DO PERIQUITO A DESCALVADO
3427 DA ILHA SÃO JOÃO AO PASSO DESCALVADINHO
3428 DA BOCA DO PAPAGAIO AO PASSO DO MORRO PELADO
3429 DA ILHA DO RIO VELHO AO PASSO BAÍA DAS ÉGUAS

Today 306 charts (353 including sub-charts) from DHN are displayed in the Marine GeoGarage

Robotic fish to patrol for pollution in harbours

The cost of water pollution runs into millions of dollars each year, and it can cause untold damage to the environment.
But now scientists have come up with an unusual solution to the problem and it comes in the shape of a robotic fish.
Dr Luke Speller from the Shoal Consortium explains how it works.

From BBC

In the shallow waters of Gijon harbour, in northern Spain, a large, yellow fish cuts through the waves.
But this swimmer stands apart from the marine life that usually inhabits this port: there's no flesh and blood here, just carbon fibre and metal.
This is robo-fish - scientists' latest weapon in the war against pollution.
This sea-faring machine works autonomously to hunt down contamination in the water, feeding this information back to the shore.

Here in Spain, several are undergoing their first trials to see if they make the grade as future marine police.
"The idea is that we want to have real-time monitoring of pollution, so that if someone is dumping chemicals or something is leaking, we can get to it straight away, find out what is causing the problem and put a stop to it," explains Luke Speller, a senior scientist at the research division of BMT Group, a technology consultancy.

The company is part of the Shoal consortium, a European Commission-funded group from academia and business that has developed these underwater robots.
"At the moment, in harbours, they take samples about once a month," says Mr Speller.
"And in that time, a ship could come into the harbour, leak some chemicals somewhere, then it's gone, all the way up the coastline.
"The idea is that we will use robot fish, which are in the harbour all of the time, and constantly checking for pollution."

Inspired by nature

The fish, which measure about 1.5m-long, may be a little larger than their real-life counterparts, but their movements closely mimic them.
Ian Dukes from the University of Essex - another partner in the consortium - says that nature was an obvious inspiration for their robot.

A robotic fish developed by scientists from Essex University is put through its paces in a special tank at the London Aquarium. It works via sensors and has autonomous navigational control.

He explains: "Over millions of years, fish have evolved the ultimate hydrodynamic shape, and we have tried to mimic that in the robot.
"They swim just like fish; they are really quite agile and can change direction quickly, even in shallow water."

But the researchers say there are other advantages to a fishy design compared with some other autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).
"Traditional robots use propellers or thrusters for propulsion," says Dr Dukes.
"What we're trying to do is use the fin of a fish to propel ourselves through the water.
"The fin does lend itself for a really useful tool in shallow waters especially where there is a lot of debris. We can work in environments that are very weedy, and would usually snag up propellers."

The fish use micro-electrode arrays to sense contaminants.
In their current form they can detect phenols and heavy metals such as copper and lead, as well as monitor oxygen levels and salinity.
But the team has tried to build in flexibility.
Dr Speller explains: "We have designed it so you can pull out the chemical sensor unit, and put in different ones for something else, such as sulphates or phosphates, depending on the environment that you are monitoring," he explains.

Constant watch: teams of robot fish could check for pollution

Hunting party

One they've sniffed out a problem, the fish use artificial intelligence to hunt down the source of pollution.
They can work alone or in a team, communicating with each other using acoustic signals and they can continuously report back to the port.

The trials at Gijon have been designed to put all of this technology to the test to so they can finalise the design of their robots.
"When we have our prototype, then we'll know what needs to be done to make this a complete commercial system. We hope it could happen in the next few years," said Dr Speller.
"In the future, what I'd also like to see is not just a single task robot, but robots that can multitask - robots that can do search and rescue, monitoring for underwaters divers, at the same time as tracking pollution."

Water pollution is an expensive business.
The Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has estimated that in England and Wales alone, cost of water pollution in rivers, canals, lakes and coastal waters came to £1.3bn per annum.
But it may be some time before robotic fish become permanent fixtures in our waters.
Prototypes currently cost about £20,000 each, although Mr Speller says costs will drop once more are produced.
But battery life is also an obstacle.
At the moment, the fish need to be recharged about every eight hours.

But, says Richard Harrington from the Marine Conservation Society, if the fish could overcome these barriers they could have a future.
He says: "Ports, harbours and estuaries can be challenging places to routinely monitor for pollutants, often with a lengthy time period between sampling and transport and laboratory time for analysis.
"A remotely operated device could be deployed quickly and simply in shallow water environments, enabling a rapid response for decision making and remedial action to be taken."
The Shoal consortium is formed of the BMT Group, the University of Essex, the Tyndall National Institute, the University of Strathclyde, Thales Safare and the Port Authority of Gijon.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Seagrasses store as much carbon as forests

From LiveSciences

Seagrasses are a vital part of the solution to climate change and can store up to twice as much carbon as the world's temperate and tropical forests, new research indicates.

"Seagrasses only take up a small percentage of global coastal area, but this assessment shows that they are a dynamic ecosystem for carbon transformation," study researcher James Fourqurean, of Florida International University, said in a statement.
"Seagrasses have the unique ability to continue to store carbon in their roots and soil in coastal seas. We found instances where particular seagrass beds have been storing carbon for thousands of years."

Seagrass bioregions

The study was the first global analysis of how much carbon is stored in seagrasses and demonstrates that coastal seagrass beds store up to 83,000 metric tons (about 91,000 short tons) of carbon per square kilometer (about 0.4 square miles), mostly in the soils below them.
For comparison, a typical terrestrial forest stores around 30,000 metric tons (33,000 short tons) per square kilometer, mostly in the form of wood.
This research also estimates that, although seagrass meadows occupy less than 0.2 percent of the world's oceans, they are responsible for more than 10 percent of all carbon buried annually in the ocean.

The study was published Sunday, May 20, in the journal Nature Geoscience.
According to the study, seagrass meadows store ninety percent of their carbon in the soil and continue to build on this for centuries.
In the Mediterranean, which is the geographic region with the greatest concentration of carbon found from the study, seagrass meadows were found to store carbon in deposits many meters deep.

Seagrasses are among the world's most threatened ecosystems.
Roughly 29 percent of all historic seagrass meadows have been destroyed, mainly due to dredging and degradation of water quality.
Every year, at least 1.5 percent more seagrass meadows are lost.
This study estimates that emissions from destruction of seagrass meadows can potentially emit up to 25 percent as much carbon as from terrestrial deforestation.

"One remarkable thing about seagrass meadows is that, if restored, they can effectively and rapidly sequester carbon and reestablish lost carbon sinks," study researcher Karen McGlathery, of the University of Virginia, said in a statement.

Seagrasses have long been recognized for their many ecosystem benefits: they filter sediment from the oceans; they protect coastlines against floods and storms; and they serve as vital habitats for fisheries production.

"The results of this global analysis emphasizes the importance of seagrass conservation and restoration," study researcher Bill Dennison, of the University of Maryland, said in a statement.
"In addition to providing habitats and nurseries for fish and shellfish and stabilizing sediments to reduce erosion, we now know that seagrass meadows have a crucial role in regulating global carbon."

The researchers emphasize that conserving and restoring seagrass meadows may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon stores, while also delivering key ecosystem services to coastal communities.

"Our vital seagrass ecosystems have always been a conservation priority, given their myriad benefits of ecosystem services to local communities" Emily Pidgeon, of the Blue Carbon Initiative, a group which funds this project, said in a statement.
"Now we must also recognize the vital importance of coastal 'blue' carbon ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows, for their importance to global climate health."

Links :