Modified carbon: how the ocean is saving us from excess carbon dioxide
SPbU in Spain invites you to the online lecture "Modified carbon: how the ocean is saving us from excess carbon dioxide", where you will learn about the role of the world’s oceans in the carbon cycle on our planet and how exactly carbon dioxide is absorbed by its waters. The lecture will be given by Polina Lobanova, PhD in Geography, Associate Professor at the Department of Oceanology, SPbU.
The oceans cover a large part of our planet and play an important role in shaping its climate. However, industrial development is releasing more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which has a greenhouse effect on the Earth’s surface, causing the temperature of the surface layer of the atmosphere to rise. About 25 per cent of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities is known to be absorbed by the ocean, where it enters the global carbon cycle.
Once in the water, carbon dioxide undergoes a chemical change and is "buried" in large quantities in the deep ocean, making our planet accessible to human life.
Carbon sequestration by the ocean occurs through the activity of photosynthetic microorganisms that inhabit the upper illuminated layer of the ocean. As a result of this "biological pump", the ocean is becoming humanity’s most important ally in the fight against climate change. But at what price?
In our lecture, we will talk about how marine ecosystems are responding to modern climate change associated with rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Lecturer
Polina Lobanova is the Head of the Master’s programme Physical Oceanography and Bioproductivity of Oceans and Seas (PhOBOS). Polina Lobanova has co-authored more than 35 research papers in the fields of oceanology, hydrobiochemistry and productivity of the world’s oceans, as well as co-authored online courses on the Open Education platform. In addition, since 2018 Polina has been a permanent member of the programme and organising committees of the All-Russian Conference of Young Scientists "Integrated Studies of the World Ocean" and co-organiser of two national roundtables "Marine Research on Carboniferous Polygons of the Russian Federation".
Polina Lobanova focuses on popularising marine science, speaking on radio, at conferences and forums, and giving interviews to online newspapers and magazines.
The lecture will be held online in Spanish with simultaneous translation into Russian as part of the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of Russia’s oldest university, SPbU.