Posted on 12/19/2022 7:21:55 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
The world's largest whales are more than just astonishing creatures. Much like the ocean, soil and forests, whales can help save humanity from the accelerating climate crisis by sequestering and storing planet-heating carbon emissions, researchers say.
In a paper published Thursday in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, climate researchers suggest that whales are important, but often overlooked, carbon sinks. The enormous size of these marine mammals, which can reach 150 tons, means they can store carbon much more effectively than smaller animals.
And because whales live longer than most animals, some for more than 100 years, the paper said they could be "one of the largest stable living carbon pools" in the ocean. Even when they die, whale carcasses descend to the deepest parts of the sea and settle on the seafloor, trapping the carbon they've stored in their stout, protein-rich bodies.
An indirect way whales can be critical carbon sinks is through their feces. Whale poop is rich in nutrients which can be taken up by phytoplankton — tiny organisms that suck up carbon dioxide as they grow. When they die, phytoplankton also sink at the bottom of the seafloor, taking tiny bits of carbon in their carcasses.
The process of carbon sequestration helps mitigate climate change, because it locks away carbon that otherwise would have warmed the planet somewhere else for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Heidi Pearson, lead author, said the research shows that protecting whales has a double benefit — helping to stem the biodiversity crisis as well as human-caused climate change.
It's another layer that links the biodiversity crisis to the climate crisis — but for now, Pearson said she and a team will go back out in the field to fully quantify the carbon impact of whales.
I swear, no matter what field you are working in, no matter how stupid your thesis, if you put "Carbon" in your research proposal, you will reap millions upon millions of dollars to produce a thoroughly crap and preposterous report.
"Look, Mom! A carbon sink!"
Did the researchers forget about whale farts?
these globull warmists are lower than whale sh*t
Rachel Ramirez majored in Communications at University of Portland, with a Minor in French Studies.
SCIENCE!!!
SOMEONE is reaching very far afield to justify their ‘research grants’.
Oh, FFS!
> Rachel Ramirez majored in Communications at University of Portland, with a Minor in French Studies. <
The very least Ramirez could have done was write her article in French.
That way people who don’t read French wouldn’t be bothered by her nonsense.
Lassie had a role in the climate crisis.
In fact, Lassie told Timmy, and Timmy went to the college campus where he bumped into a bunch of totalitarians, and they quickly recognized that they could turn **anything** into a climate crisis.
And they did, and it’s been great!
Not only that, but FRENCH Science!!
Casinos everywhere are rejoicing. They love whales in casinos
Can’t they just plant a few more trees?! The Star Trek crew did go into the past to kidnap a whale to take it to the future. So yeah, whales are the key to the future. Balance is what it is.
Ze whales, Mon Dieu!...
She probably never got past come-on-out-to-the-alley-youse
Whales also exhale large amounts of CO2.
“climate crisis” LOL
If the whales ate all the “climate experts” the “climate crisis” would miraculously go away!
Just say NO to drugs. Whales. Yeah Okay. LOL.
Sounds like good preferred pronouns!
I am a scientist by my degrees in in Geology, Pharmacy and almost chemistry but the chemistry department would not honor my many classes in pharmaceutical chemistry and geochemistry.
I tire greatly of pseudo-science.
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