The mediterranean effect was first mentioned by Oceanographer Hans Neu, head of the Bedford Institute of Nova Scotia back in the late 1960s-1980s. He did an intensive ocean, river dam study for Hydro Quebec, when they were curious about what the impact of completely blocking the St Lawrence River Seaway was. Our major Rivers are the main coronary arteries of the planets circulatory system and transport massive amounts of nutrients to all marine life.
Because dams and flow regulation weaken the force of these upwelling nutrient currents, less nutrients are available. The marine food chain is very dependent on diatoms and because their populations are declining the entire fishery is negatively impacted. Many other species are also important for carbon sequestration are suffering because of the starvation of the plankton by the dams. If diatom populations are diminishing by about one percent per year as NASA has stated then this equates to a significant increase in CO2 levels because removal of CO2 by diatoms is not occurring in the same volume as occurred prior to dams obstruction of the the major coronary arteries of our planet .
Rob, great synopsis. I so appreciate your dedication and your deepening appreciation of the immense complexity of the larger body we inhabit. We are like toxic microbes on Earth’s skin.
Beautiful writing. I teach Environmental Science to high schoolers. As an introduction each student receives a ruler showing centimeters and millimeters. I have a circle drawn on the white board that is a meter across. I explain life at least in the form of bacteria is found a mile down in the crust and around 10 miles up ( around the height of storm clouds and weather that affects us). Then I say this zone on an earth the size of the drawn circle is 4 mm. Where humans live is less than 2 mm. I make the point that the activities of life including humans is powerful enough to have huge influences on that narrow band. I also use examples of keystone species whose actions make a positive effect through an ecosystem saying we are the earth’s keystone species and with wisdom , close observation and love we can create the same positive effect giving examples from past human practices, that the biosphere can be more beautiful and alive because of the presence of humanity.
Thanks Rob, I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts this year. Very grateful for you getting me on to Millan Millan and others. It is expanding my perspective in many ways.
Happy New Year from England! The petition is on Avaaz although, in truth, it is not a petition but a Charter. A Charter calling for The Rights of Nature to be enshrined in World Law ala that existing for Humanity and for action on climate that is formulated by science. The aim is to take the story to the streets, out of Academia and Politicania, (just made up that latter definition). The WWW is the very first opportunity we have had in all of history, to reach out to everyone, everywhere, wherever there is a modicum of free speech and access to the Web. It is a tough call, and we - Corrina McFarlane from Santa Cruz and Peter Paap in the netherlands - are all there are at present working on it with Professor Barnard providing inspiration and a guiding hand. We need more folks with us to make this work. No one has tried this before. Consulting the people and there are 7 billions out there.....
The mediterranean effect was first mentioned by Oceanographer Hans Neu, head of the Bedford Institute of Nova Scotia back in the late 1960s-1980s. He did an intensive ocean, river dam study for Hydro Quebec, when they were curious about what the impact of completely blocking the St Lawrence River Seaway was. Our major Rivers are the main coronary arteries of the planets circulatory system and transport massive amounts of nutrients to all marine life.
Because dams and flow regulation weaken the force of these upwelling nutrient currents, less nutrients are available. The marine food chain is very dependent on diatoms and because their populations are declining the entire fishery is negatively impacted. Many other species are also important for carbon sequestration are suffering because of the starvation of the plankton by the dams. If diatom populations are diminishing by about one percent per year as NASA has stated then this equates to a significant increase in CO2 levels because removal of CO2 by diatoms is not occurring in the same volume as occurred prior to dams obstruction of the the major coronary arteries of our planet .
Thanks for bringing this perspective, Cliff. It's something that definitely needs more attention.
Thanks for this information. A Canadian Grandma
Rob, wonderful! I thought of Herb... and his dedication to saving our planet. ❤️
Thank you, Kathy. Yeah, Herb had his heart in the right place. And a bog one at that.
Rob, great synopsis. I so appreciate your dedication and your deepening appreciation of the immense complexity of the larger body we inhabit. We are like toxic microbes on Earth’s skin.
Thanks, Jeff. Here's to be better microbes.
Beautiful writing. I teach Environmental Science to high schoolers. As an introduction each student receives a ruler showing centimeters and millimeters. I have a circle drawn on the white board that is a meter across. I explain life at least in the form of bacteria is found a mile down in the crust and around 10 miles up ( around the height of storm clouds and weather that affects us). Then I say this zone on an earth the size of the drawn circle is 4 mm. Where humans live is less than 2 mm. I make the point that the activities of life including humans is powerful enough to have huge influences on that narrow band. I also use examples of keystone species whose actions make a positive effect through an ecosystem saying we are the earth’s keystone species and with wisdom , close observation and love we can create the same positive effect giving examples from past human practices, that the biosphere can be more beautiful and alive because of the presence of humanity.
Important work you do. Thank you.
Thank you! A Canadian Grandma
Thank you, Sandy!
Thanks Rob, I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts this year. Very grateful for you getting me on to Millan Millan and others. It is expanding my perspective in many ways.
Thanks, Jen!
2024. Political disaster year..."Drill baby Drill". Despite the wisdom of sages in every university & institution, graft, greed & sheer ignorance makes the decisions; Some of us reckon that all the folks out there need a say - a consultation on the WWW. So, with the advice of Professor Phoebe Barnard PhD, here it is: https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/world_magna_carta_group_world_charter_for_life_on_earth/?edOXltb&utm_source=sharetools&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=petition-1739193-world_charter_for_life_on_earth&utm_term=dOXltb%2Ben
Thanks, Malcolm. Phoebe Barnard is an inspiration.
Happy New Year from England! The petition is on Avaaz although, in truth, it is not a petition but a Charter. A Charter calling for The Rights of Nature to be enshrined in World Law ala that existing for Humanity and for action on climate that is formulated by science. The aim is to take the story to the streets, out of Academia and Politicania, (just made up that latter definition). The WWW is the very first opportunity we have had in all of history, to reach out to everyone, everywhere, wherever there is a modicum of free speech and access to the Web. It is a tough call, and we - Corrina McFarlane from Santa Cruz and Peter Paap in the netherlands - are all there are at present working on it with Professor Barnard providing inspiration and a guiding hand. We need more folks with us to make this work. No one has tried this before. Consulting the people and there are 7 billions out there.....
Sounds like a topic for a future post!
Gladly put something together.