scientist spotlight

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed annually across the globe on 5 November, calling for countries, international bodies and civil society to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to risk reduction.

Volcanic eruptions are one of the major natural hazards on our planet. Not only do they pose risks to people and property in surrounding communities, but they can damage critical infrastructure including the subsea telecommunications cables that support 99% of our digital communications globally.

The visible effects of plastic entering the ocean are unfortunately all too clear to us. But what happens to it under the surface? And what is the impact on delicate ocean ecosystems?

Oceanography is a science that is highly dependent on observations and measurements to give us a better understanding of our seas in a changing climate.

Shelf seas, the shallow seas closest to our continents, account for over 90% of global fisheries productivity, and are relied upon by society for transport and leisure. More recently shelf seas are increasingly being looked at as a renewable energy source to help mitigate climate change.

Our ocean offers a potential buffer against climate change. It takes up and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a process known as the biological carbon pump. Without life in the ocean providing this pump scientists think atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could be 50% higher than they are even now.

Extreme sea-level events are an ever-growing threat to coastal communities across our planet due to rising seas. NOC scientists are at the cutting edge of research into why our sea-levels are rising, the likelihood of resulting extreme events and cutting-edge solutions to protect our coastlines.

Our pioneering Marine Systems Modelling (MSM) scientists develop and use innovative, state-of-the-art ocean models to better understand and predict how oceans work, addressing fundamental challenges in society.

As sea level rise accelerates, there is a greater need to protect those living closest to our coasts.

Historically, coastal management strategies, such as the building of sea walls, have been reactive to extreme events. Now, more sustainable adaptive management strategies are sought.

Seagrass meadows are the powerhouses of coastal seas, providing a nature-based solution to climate change.

They have been neglected for decades, which has led to their large-scale degradation and loss. This loss now provides an opportunity for environmental renewal through large-scale restoration.