Diário de Bordo Virtual

The recent Tara Arctic expedition strongly demonstrated the reality of global warming. What will be the impact of this global warming on life and on human society? The increase in CO2 and its acidifying effects on the oceans are at the heart of the problem. Half of our CO2 production is absorbed by planktonic organisms. They are at the very origin of life, and a major component of the climate engine. Through their photosynthetic activity these microscopic organisms produce as much oxygen as forests. Without oxygen-producing plankton, humans would never have seen the light of day, and without them, we will disappear. Our future is bound to the fate of the microscopic life in the oceans. How will plankton adjust to abrupt changes in the environment? Will the oceans bloom with invasive species or will there be ocean desertification? Tara will embark for 3 years on a unique trip around the world in search of answers to these basic questions. What makes this expedition unique is the multidisciplinary and continuous exploration of the world’s oceans and seas using the same collection and observation methods everywhere. An international team of oceanographers, ecologists, biologists and physicists from prestigious laboratories has been organized for the Tara Oceans expedition. Artists, journalists, scientific and cultural personalities from the visited countries will be associated with this exceptional adventure. http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/

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