Why we celebrate World Oceans Day

What is World Ocean’s Day?

World Oceans Day (WOD) serves as a reminder to every one of the importance of the oceans in our daily lives. The oceans are our planet's lungs, as well as a vital source of food and medicine.

Artisanal fishermen getting their daily food from the ocean

The purpose of the celebration

The goal of the Day is to raise public awareness about the impact of human actions on the ocean, to build a global citizen movement for the ocean, and to mobilize and unite the global population behind a project for the long-term management of the world's oceans.

Why celebrate the World Ocean Day

We are all connected, sustained, and supported by the oceans. Yet its health and the well-being of all who depend on it are at a critical point. As the last years have demonstrated, we must collaborate to develop a new balance with the ocean that does not deplete its abundance but rather restores its vitality and gives it new life. On June 8, 2022, the United Nations will celebrate World Oceans Day with the theme, “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.”

Over ninety-five percent of the water on Earth is found in the oceans, but tragically, climate change and pollution are putting pressure on the oceans. Over 70% of the earth's surface is covered by water. It is our source of life, providing food to humans and every other living thing on the planet.

The ocean produces at least 50 percent of the planet's oxygen and is home to the majority of the planet's species. It is the primary source of protein for over a billion people worldwide. In addition, the ocean is essential to our economy, with a projected 40 million jobs in ocean-based businesses by 2030. Satellites are the major means of long-term, independent observation of our huge ocean bodies and adjacent coastal zones. Ocean monitoring is essential for the life of the planet.

Despite all of its benefits, the ocean currently needs support.

With 90% of large fish populations reduced and 50% of coral reefs gone, humans are taking more from the ocean than it can sustain. To conserve and preserve the ocean and everything that it supports, we must establish a new balance based on an accurate understanding of the ocean and humanity's relationship with it. We must establish a connection to the oceans that is inclusive, innovative, and based on past experiences.

A call from UG-GMES to preserve the oceans

How are satellites used for ocean observation?

In ways that are otherwise inconceivable, satellites can "see" the sea. More than 70 percent of our planet's surface is covered by the vast ocean, which can be observed by satellites. By remotely sensing from orbits high above the Earth, satellites offer us with significantly more information than would be feasible from the surface alone.

Using satellites, scientists examine the ocean in great detail. Satellites can collect information on ocean bathymetry, sea surface temperature, ocean colour, coral reefs, and sea and lake ice. Scientists also employ satellite data gathering systems to send signals from ground transmitters to researchers in the field, for purposes such as detecting tidal heights and whale migration. The information gathered remotely from emergency beacons is also utilized to save lives when individuals are in distress on boats, aeroplanes, or in remote locations.

Sea Surface Temperature

Knowing the temperature of the sea's surface can inform scientists a great deal about the ocean's environment. Changes in temperature alter the behaviour of fish, can lead to coral bleaching, and affect the coastal climate. Images of sea surface temperature captured by satellites also reveal patterns of water movement.

Sea Surface Colour

Additionally, satellites provide information regarding the colour of the ocean. For instance, colour data assist researchers in determining the impact of coastal flooding, detecting river plumes, and locating dangerous algal blooms that can taint shellfish and kill other fish and marine mammals. Satellite ocean colour data enables us to not only determine where an algal bloom is starting, but also to forecast where it may travel in the future.

A Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) map using ocean colour

Sea Level Change

One of the most significant potential impacts of climate change is sea-level rise, which can lead to the flooding of coastal areas and islands, the erosion of shorelines, and the destruction of vital ecosystems such as wetland and mangrove habitats. The assessment of long-term variations in the global mean sea level gives the means to test the global warming forecasts of climate models.

Mapping

Oceanic features, such as coral reefs, can also be mapped using satellite images. The geology of the sea floor is considerably less complex than the geology of the continents since erosion rates are lower and the continents have seen many collisions due to the opening and closure of ocean basins.

Weather

The ocean has a significant role in regulating the weather and climate of the world. Perhaps the most well-known application of satellite technology is weather data.

Forecasting of ocean weather by GMES and Africa

Tracking

Satellites that provide imagery of the environment may also be utilized in collaboration with other organizations that gather data from various sensors. For instance, marine species like sea turtles and manatees can be equipped with transmitters that send their locations to orbiting satellites. Similar technology is also utilized in human search and rescue operations.

GMES and Africa Project

To conserve the ocean and its resources for future generations, the continental programme, Global Monitoring for Environment and Security Project, intends to provide operational services, stimulate research and create capacity for processes in the marine and coastal environment. It emphasizes the application of technology and earth observation to policymaking and the management of marine and coastal resources. In order to monitor the environment as well as the ocean, Earth observation data is collected via satellites or in situ around the globe.

The Marine and Coastal Areas Management in North and West Africa (MarCNoWa) is one of the actions within the GMES and Africa programme and is carried out by the University of Ghana's consortium. The project encompasses 18 coastal nations in both West and North Africa (Algeria, Benin, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Tunisia).

Staff and interns of the Regional Marine Centre, participated in a beach clean up to commemorate the day

GMES and Africa is a joint program between the European Commission and the African Union Commission. GMES and Africa were created for the same reason as the European Copernicus Program: to support African organizations, policy-makers, and practitioners by providing Earth Observation data, products, and services, to develop relevant operational and actionable information, and to contribute to more effective and sustainable management of natural resources while combating climate change. The GMES and Africa program now offer a variety of applications in the following three thematic areas: (a) Long-Term Management of Natural Resources, (b) Marine and Coastal Areas, and (c) Water Resources Management.

The Action Plan initiated a long-term structured dialogue between Africa and Europe on EO systems to respond to global needs, manage the environment, comprehend and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security by providing real-time information to policymakers, scientists, businesses, and the general public. GMES & Africa encourages the development of local skills and institutional, human, and technical resources for access to and use of EO-based services for Africa's sustainable development on an operational basis.