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Ben McNeil Senior Fellow Climate Change Research Centre University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia Ph: 02 9385 7068 Fax: 02 9385 7123
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Research Interests
Anthropogenic carbon dioxide uptake by the ocean decreases the pH of seawater, leading to an 'acidification' which may have potential detrimental consequences on marine organisms and flow-on effects throughout the marine ecosystem and among corals. This research area seeks to better understand future projections of oceanic acidification and likely implications on the marine ecosystem. Related publications can be downloaded here and here.
The Southern Ocean south of Australia plays a critical role in absorbing and mediating atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. This area of research aims to better our understanding of the dynamics and future ability of the Southern Ocean to absorb anthropogenic carbon dioxide form the atmosphere. Latest estimates for Southern Ocean carbon dioxide uptake have been made public here, along with new estimates for estimating seasonal carbon parameters. Related publications can be downloaded here and here.
The ocean has absorbed 50% of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide we have emitted since the industrial revolution. Models suggest the ocean sink to be vulnerable to climate change in the future from changes to solubilty and oceanic circulaiton. This new research area seeks to better understand the oceanic sink and its future vulnerability through a combination of observational methods and modeling. Related publications can be downloaded here.
Although the ocean carbon sink has played a vital role in reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, it has not played a role within international climate policy. This area of research aims to analyse if the ocean carbon sink should be included in future climate policies. Related publications can be downloaded here and here.
Global greenhouse gas emissions have hit 30 billion tonnes in the year 2006. Future climate change can be slowed depending on the energy choices made today by governments/industry around the world. Low carbon energy technologies will undergo a surge in investment in this greenhouse century. Research here aims to contribute to the national debate about optimal energy choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades. Related publications can be downloaded here.
Year to year variations in the ocean's ability to absorb atmospheric CO2 has large implications on atmospheric CO2 concentrations through dynamic features like El-Nino Southern Oscillation, the Souther Annular Mode and the North Atlantic Oscillation. I have recently been awarded an Australian Research Council Queen Elizabeth II fellowship to investigate these processes and understand how important they are to atmospheric CO2 varaibility.
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