A team of scientists from Nelson Mandela University are leading the way in establishing an observation system to monitor coastal greenhouse gases, a key driver of climate change, for SA and Africa.
Part of the EU-funded project will be a state-of-the-art sunken observatory, which has been procured at a cost of R10m, and will be installed soon in Algoa Bay.
The news was contained in a presentation by senior Nelson Mandela University (NMU) marine biologist Prof Tommy Bornman, who is also the coastal node manager of the South African Environmental Observation Network.
Speaking at a hybrid seminar on Thursday, Bornman said 83% of global carbon was circulated through the ocean.
“Fifty percent of that figure is sequestered [absorbed] by and originates from coastal habitats like estuaries, and yet only 2% of the ocean comprises coastal habitats.
“So, the coastal zone has a disproportionate carbon sequestration capability.”
He said his team had been contracted to do the ocean pilot study for the Knowledge and Climate Services African Observation Data Research project.
They were working with a range of different observation tools including a fixed observation station.
“We have procured two of these moorings, one for Algoa Bay and one for St Helena Bay on the West Coast, which will be our other pilot study site.
“Sea Technology Services in Cape Town is putting the finishing touches to them and they will hopefully both go into the water in the next few weeks for testing, for about a month or two.
“After that they will be deployed permanently.
“Each one will cost about R10m, not including maintenance, which will be quite intensive.”
He said the observation stations, shaped like an upright torpedo, would include an intricate array of sensors to monitor both greenhouse gases and a range of other essential ocean variables to gauge if, how and why the levels of these gases were changing.
“They will monitor carbon and pH [acidity and alkalinity], and each station will have an intake on top to measure the amount of carbon dioxide exchanged between the atmosphere and the ocean.
“The moorings will also measure temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll [contained in plant plankton] and turbidity [haziness from suspended sediment].
“Also on top, they will measure rain and wind, and down below currents and waves — and most important, nitrates.”
Bornman said the Algoa Bay mooring would be deployed near St Croix island on the boundary of the Addo Marine Protected Area.
“Saeon will also be developing an app and web interface where the public can access the data in near real-time.
“This will provide great data on sea temperature, underwater visibility, wind strength and direction, current strength and direction, wave height and wave period that will be invaluable for the citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay to plan their marine leisure activities.
“It will also provide the NSRI, Lifesaving SA, Samsa and Portnet with an early warning system of changing conditions and potential risks at sea.”
The Herald
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