National Oceanography Centre Association

5th Annual Meeting –

Key-Note Presentation

Sir Mark Walport

Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government

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• Health, well being, security, and

resilience

• Knowledge translated to economic

advantage

• The right science for emergencies

• Underpinning policy with evidence

• Advocacy and leadership for

science

Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser

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Oceanographic observations are essential

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Major research questions for

oceanography in the next decade

• Climate change, both

observations and mitigation

• Improving seasonal weather

predictions

• Understanding the vast

biological diversity and

ecosystem functions of the

oceans

• The resource opportunities in the

seafloor and sub-seafloor

• How new technologies will

revolutionise how we gather and

interpret data Plot of energy accumulation in ZJ (1 ZJ = 1021J) within

distinct components of Earth’s climate system (IPCC)

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The major research questions:

Climate Change – Ocean warming

mean (1993-2009)

= 0

Deployment of an

eXpendable

BathyThermographs.

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The major research questions:

Climate Change – Sea level rise

mean (1961-1990)

= 0

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The major research questions:

Climate Change – Sea level rise

Radar tidal gauge

UK Coastal Monitoring and Forecasting (UKCMF)

Service - Strategic monitoring network for tide levels

and wave heights 1993–2012 Sea level trends from satellite altimetry.

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Photo Credit: NERC Storm surge at Dawlish.

This information is essential when responding to emergencies

The major research questions:

Climate Change – Sea level rise

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The major research questions:

Climate Change – Climate ‘tipping points’

Marine-ice shelf disintegration Methane release from the sea bed

Principal stress fields and stress-flow angles on Larsen C ice shelf

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RAPID: long term observations of the Atlantic Meridional

Circulation at 26ºN

International collaborative research programme:

UK, Canada, Germany, USA

Measuring the strength of the ocean conveyor in

the North Atlantic as part of a ‘climate monitoring

system’.

The major research questions:

Climate and seasonal modelling

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The major research questions:

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

The piglet squid photographed off the coast of

Nigeria. Image courtesy SERPENT project

Stephen Low Productions. East Pacific Vent at

9degN, 2,600meters on Tube Worm Pillar. Giant

tubeworms close up with vent fish. The Coral Reef Laboratory - NOC

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The major research questions:

Seafloor as a source of resources

Energy

• Hydro-carbons

• Methane hydrates

• Biofuels from marine algae

• Marine renewables

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The major research questions:

Seafloor as a source of resources

Minerals

• Manganese

• Copper

• Nickel

• Cobalt

• Rare Earth

elements

NOC - global distribution of manganese nodules and cobalt crust

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The major research questions:

Technology for autonomous measurements

• Big Data

• Internet of things

• Satellite technology

• Robotics

The UK has the opportunity to capitalise on investment in world class

research infrastructure and emerging technologies

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Royal Society project on environmental

observations and remote sensing

How can Government best ensure that the potential of

environmental observation data and technologies are

exploited to maximum effect, for current and future

research, industry and policy needs?

And ensure that UK scientists and others have the

infrastructure they need to stay at the forefront of research

and decision-making?

Looking at all types of technology across five domains:

• Air

• Land and freshwater

• Oceans and ice

• Climate change

• Natural Hazards

Reporting in May 2015.

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To inform

The importance of communicating

oceanographic science – climate change

To aid policy and decision making To empower individual decision-making

To counter misinformation

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The importance of communicating

oceanographic science – inspiration

Oceanography is fundamental to our

understanding of our planet and essential

in understanding our planet’s response to

our greenhouse gas emissions.

Oceanography is fascinating and

important, and should be presented as

such.

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The work that NOC does is of fundamental importance to the UK and

the world’s future.

Conclusion - The future of NOC

NOC will need to

• have a role in maintaining the UK national environmental science

infrastructure, in terms of facilities, data and national capabilities and

employing the latest technological innovations

• play an appropriate role as part of the broader oceanographic

community

• contribute to the UK’s resilience and

strategic planning; and

• maintain their ‘public good’ activity -

both the contribution to Whitehall and

more broadly to the public.

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@uksciencechief

www.gov.uk/go-science

Science Advice – ESOF 2014