Human beings are more reliant on the world's oceans than ever before: more than 90 per cent of global trade is conducted by ships, 20 per cent of the protein we consume comes from seafood and the ocean is playing a vital role in mitigating global climate change.

All while generating trillions of dollars in the tourism industry.

In fact, the ocean economy is the fourth largest economy in the world.

It also remains a key component of national security and energy production, but ocean dynamics have changed dramatically in the past century, and continue to do so.

Stories about coastal communities wrecked by extreme weather, the collapse of fisheries and coral reefs, the fallout of ocean plastics, the general decline of marine ecosystems and increased numbers of dead zones, red tide blooms and invasive species dominate the headlines.

Understanding, anticipating and planning for these new challenges, and how they will affect our oceans and the humans who rely on them, has never been more urgent.

At the request of the U.S. National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Memorial University’s Dr. Brad De Young co-authored a survey titled Forecasting the Ocean: the 2025-2035 Decade of Ocean Science.

The report provides advice on how to prioritize investments in ocean-related research, infrastructure and workforce to meet known challenges in the coming decade.

“Given our limited resources and the rapid nature of these changes, we need to consider how to set priorities,” said Dr. de Young, a professor in the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography at Memorial University. “Our efforts must shift to focus on the key gaps in our predictive knowledge.

“For example, the ocean presently absorbs 90 per cent of global heat and roughly 30 per cent of carbon dioxide," he continued. "But ongoing changes will likely slow these rates, leading to accelerated atmospheric warming. We need to determine how the ocean’s ability to absorb heat and carbon dioxide will change in the coming years. As climate change shifts patterns of extreme events, it is critical we improve our ability to observe, understand and forecast extreme events.”

Among the report's suggestions is a shift towards international co-operation.

Dr. de Young says that since so few of the challenges are "truly" local, a move towards more collaborative, transdisciplinary research is necessary, alongside an expanded ocean science workforce.

“We must integrate emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and expanded use of existing ocean infrastructure such as globally ranging research vessels, global drifters that float on the ocean surface and gather information, underwater communication cables and coastal marine laboratories,” he said.

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Dr. Brad de Young is available for an interview on the survey’s findings and suggestions. To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact Chad Pelley, manager of media relations, Memorial University, at chad.pelley@mun.ca or 709-853-4281.