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Triona McGrath: How pollution is changing the ocean's chemistry
特丽雅娜 · 麦格拉斯: 污染是如何改变海洋化学成分的？
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随着我们不断向大气中排放二氧化碳，许多二氧化碳都被海洋吸收，也就导致了海水化学成分的剧烈变化。特丽雅娜 · 麦格拉斯对海洋酸化进行了研究。在这个演讲中，她将带我们进入海洋学家的世界，让我们更多的了解“气候变化的邪恶分身”（即海洋酸化）是如何影响海洋的——以及如何影响依靠海洋生存的生命。
Triona McGrath - Chemical oceanographer
Triona McGrath researches how the oceans are changing due to human activities. Full bio
Triona McGrath researches how the oceans are changing due to human activities. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Do you ever think about how important
the oceans are in our daily lives?
the oceans are in our daily lives?
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你们是否想过，海洋在我们的
日常生活中有多么重要？
日常生活中有多么重要？
00:19
The oceans cover two-thirds of our planet.
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海洋覆盖了地球三分之二的表面。
00:23
They provide half the oxygen we breathe.
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我们呼吸的氧气中，
一半是由海洋提供的。
一半是由海洋提供的。
00:26
They moderate our climate.
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它们能调节气候。
00:28
And they provide jobs
and medicine and food
and medicine and food
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它们还能为我们
提供岗位、药材和食物，
提供岗位、药材和食物，
00:32
including 20 percent of protein
to feed the entire world population.
to feed the entire world population.
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包括全世界人口生存
所需蛋白质的20%。
所需蛋白质的20%。
00:38
People used to think
that the oceans were so vast
that the oceans were so vast
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人们曾经认为海洋广阔到
根本不会被人类活动所影响。
00:40
that they wouldn't be affected
by human activities.
by human activities.
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00:44
Well today I'm going to tell you
about a serious reality
about a serious reality
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那么今天我要告诉你们
一个正在导致海洋变化的
严酷现实——海洋酸化，
严酷现实——海洋酸化，
00:47
that is changing our oceans
called ocean acidification,
called ocean acidification,
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00:52
or the evil twin of climate change.
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即伴随气候变化的另一个糟糕问题。
00:55
Did you know that the oceans have absorbed
25 percent of all of the carbon dioxide
25 percent of all of the carbon dioxide
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你们知道吗，我们排放进
大气里的二氧化碳
大气里的二氧化碳
有25%被海洋吸收了。
01:01
that we have emitted to the atmosphere?
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01:03
Now this is just another great service
provided by the oceans
provided by the oceans
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这是海洋做出的又一大贡献，
01:07
since carbon dioxide
is one of the greenhouse gases
is one of the greenhouse gases
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因为二氧化碳是温室气体中的一种，
会造成气候变化。
01:10
that's causing climate change.
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01:13
But as we keep pumping
more and more and more
more and more and more
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但随着我们向大气中排放的
二氧化碳越来越多，
01:17
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
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01:20
more is dissolving into the oceans.
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溶解进海洋的部分也越来越多。
01:22
And this is what's changing
our ocean chemistry.
our ocean chemistry.
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这就改变了海洋的化学成分。
01:27
When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater,
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二氧化碳溶入海水后，
海水将发生许多化学反应。
01:29
it undergoes a number
of chemical reactions.
of chemical reactions.
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01:32
Now lucky for you,
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还好，
01:33
I don't have time to get into
the details of the chemistry for today.
the details of the chemistry for today.
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因为时间不够，你们不必
听我解释化学反应的细节。
听我解释化学反应的细节。
01:37
But I'll tell you as more
carbon dioxide enters the ocean,
carbon dioxide enters the ocean,
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但我可以告诉你们，
随着更多的二氧化碳进入海洋
随着更多的二氧化碳进入海洋
海水的pH值会下降。
01:40
the seawater pH goes down.
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01:43
And this basically means that there
is an increase in ocean acidity.
is an increase in ocean acidity.
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这就意味着海洋酸度的上升。
01:48
And this whole process
is called ocean acidification.
is called ocean acidification.
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这整个过程被称为海水酸化。
01:52
And it's happening
alongside climate change.
alongside climate change.
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它伴随着气候变化一起发生。
01:56
Scientists have been monitoring
ocean acidification for over two decades.
ocean acidification for over two decades.
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科学家们已经监测了
海洋酸度超过20年。
海洋酸度超过20年。
02:00
This figure is an important
time series in Hawaii,
time series in Hawaii,
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这幅图显示了在夏威夷
收集的重要连续监测数据，
收集的重要连续监测数据，
02:03
and the top line shows steadily increasing
concentrations of carbon dioxide,
concentrations of carbon dioxide,
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而最上面的折线反映了
大气中二氧化碳浓度的
大气中二氧化碳浓度的
稳步增长。
02:08
or CO2 gas, in the atmosphere.
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02:11
And this is directly as a result
of human activities.
of human activities.
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这是人类活动的直接结果。
02:15
The line underneath shows the increasing
concentrations of carbon dioxide
concentrations of carbon dioxide
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下面的折线则反映了
溶解在海洋表面的
溶解在海洋表面的
二氧化碳浓度不断升高，
02:19
that is dissolved
in the surface of the ocean
in the surface of the ocean
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02:22
which you can see is increasing
at the same rate
at the same rate
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你们可以看到，从有
测量记录开始，它的增长速率
测量记录开始，它的增长速率
02:25
as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
since measurements began.
since measurements began.
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就和大气中二氧化碳的
增长速率一致。
增长速率一致。
02:28
The line on the bottom shows
then shows the change in chemistry.
then shows the change in chemistry.
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而最底部的折线反映了
海水化学成分的变化。
海水化学成分的变化。
02:31
As more carbon dioxide
has entered the ocean,
has entered the ocean,
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随着更多的二氧化碳进入海洋，
海水pH值下降了，
02:34
the seawater pH has gone down,
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02:37
which basically means there has been
an increase in ocean acidity.
an increase in ocean acidity.
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这也意味着海水酸度的升高。
02:43
Now in Ireland, scientists are also
monitoring ocean acidification --
monitoring ocean acidification --
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在爱尔兰，来自海洋研究所
和爱尔兰国家学院戈尔韦分校的
和爱尔兰国家学院戈尔韦分校的
科学家们也在监测海洋的酸化。
02:47
scientists at the Marine
Institute and NUI Galway.
Institute and NUI Galway.
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02:50
And we, too, are seeing
acidification at the same rate
acidification at the same rate
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而我们也见证着海洋酸化
以和世界各地
以和世界各地
02:54
as these main ocean time-series
sites around the world.
sites around the world.
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其他海洋监测站点
同样的速度进行着。
同样的速度进行着。
02:57
So it's happening right at our doorstep.
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所以海洋酸化就在我们眼前发生着。
03:01
Now I'd like to give you an example
of just how we collect our data
of just how we collect our data
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现在我想给你们举个例子
来说明我们是如何收集数据
来说明我们是如何收集数据
03:04
to monitor a changing ocean.
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来监测不断变化的海洋的。
03:07
Firstly we collect a lot of our samples
in the middle of winter.
in the middle of winter.
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首先，我们的许多样本
都是在寒冬中采集的。
都是在寒冬中采集的。
03:10
So as you can imagine,
in the North Atlantic
in the North Atlantic
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所以你们可以想象，在北大西洋
我们常常遇到波涛汹涌的海面——
03:12
we get hit with some seriously
stormy conditions --
stormy conditions --
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03:15
so not for any of you
who get a little motion sickness,
who get a little motion sickness,
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这带来的不仅仅是
一点晕船的症状，
一点晕船的症状，
03:17
but we are collecting
some very valuable data.
some very valuable data.
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我们也在收集非常珍贵的数据。
03:20
So we lower this instrument
over the side of the ship,
over the side of the ship,
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我们把设备从船的一侧放下去，
03:23
and there are sensors
that are mounted on the bottom
that are mounted on the bottom
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设备的底部装有许多传感器，
能够探测出周围海水的信息，
03:25
that can tell us information about
the surrounding water,
the surrounding water,
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比如温度、溶氧量等。
03:28
such as temperature
or dissolved oxygen.
or dissolved oxygen.
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03:31
And then we can collect our seawater
samples in these large bottles.
samples in these large bottles.
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然后我们把海水样本
装进这些大瓶子里。
装进这些大瓶子里。
03:35
So we start at the bottom,
which can be over four kilometers deep
which can be over four kilometers deep
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我们从海底开始，大约在四千米深处
03:38
just off our continental shelf,
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大陆架的上方，
03:40
and we take samples at regular intervals
right up to the surface.
right up to the surface.
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一直到海水表面，都以
相同的间隔提取海水样本。
相同的间隔提取海水样本。
03:44
We take the seawater back on the deck,
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我们把海水样本拉到甲板上，
然后我们在船上或是实验室里，
03:47
and then we can either
analyze them on the ship
analyze them on the ship
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03:49
or back in the laboratory
for the different chemicals parameters.
for the different chemicals parameters.
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分析海水中不同的化学成分参数。
03:53
But why should we care?
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我们为什么要在乎这些呢？
03:54
How is ocean acidification
going to affect all of us?
going to affect all of us?
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海水酸化会怎样影响
我们所有人呢？
我们所有人呢？
04:00
Well, here are the worrying facts.
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这里有一些令人担忧的事实。
04:04
There has already been an increase
in ocean acidity of 26 percent
in ocean acidity of 26 percent
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从工业化以前到现在，
海洋酸度已经增加了26%，
海洋酸度已经增加了26%，
这是由人类活动直接导致的。
04:10
since pre-industrial times,
which is directly due to human activities.
which is directly due to human activities.
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04:15
Unless we can start slowing down
our carbon dioxide emissions,
our carbon dioxide emissions,
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除非我们能逐渐
降低二氧化碳排放量，
降低二氧化碳排放量，
04:20
we're expecting an increase
in ocean acidity of 170 percent
in ocean acidity of 170 percent
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否则在本世纪末，
04:26
by the end of this century.
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海水酸度将增长170%。
04:29
I mean this is within
our children's lifetime.
our children's lifetime.
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这将发生在我们下一代中发生。
04:33
This rate of acidification
is 10 times faster
is 10 times faster
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这个酸化的速度比过去5500万年
以来的酸化速度还要快上10倍。
04:39
than any acidification in our oceans
for over 55 million years.
for over 55 million years.
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04:46
So our marine life have never,
ever experienced
ever experienced
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我们的海洋从来没有经历过
04:50
such a fast rate of change before.
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如此高速的变化。
04:53
So we literally could not know
how they're going to cope.
how they're going to cope.
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所以我们真的不知道
海洋将如何应对。
海洋将如何应对。
04:59
Now there was a natural acidification
event millions of years ago,
event millions of years ago,
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几百万年前曾经有过
自然发生的海洋酸化过程，
自然发生的海洋酸化过程，
它比我们现在看到的酸化慢得多。
05:03
which was much slower
than what we're seeing today.
than what we're seeing today.
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05:06
And this coincided with a mass extinction
of many marine species.
of many marine species.
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它和一场大规模的
海洋物种灭绝同时发生。
海洋物种灭绝同时发生。
05:12
So is that what we're headed for?
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那么这也将是我们会面临的局面吗？
05:15
Well, maybe.
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嗯，也许吧。
05:17
Studies are showing
some species are actually doing quite well
some species are actually doing quite well
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研究表明有些物种生活得还不错，
可是许多物种已经表现出了消极反馈。
05:20
but many are showing a negative response.
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05:25
One of the big concerns is
as ocean acidity increases,
as ocean acidity increases,
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最令人担心的事情之一是
随着海水酸度增加，
随着海水酸度增加，
05:29
the concentration of carbonate
ions in seawater decrease.
ions in seawater decrease.
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海水中的碳酸根离子浓度会下降。
05:34
Now these ions are basically
the building blocks
the building blocks
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而这些离子正是许多海洋生物
05:37
for many marine species
to make their shells,
to make their shells,
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外壳生长的原材料，
05:40
for example crabs or mussels, oysters.
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比如说螃蟹、贻贝、牡蛎等。
05:45
Another example are corals.
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另一个例子是珊瑚。
05:47
They also need these carbonate
ions in seawater
ions in seawater
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珊瑚虫也需要海水中的碳酸根离子
05:51
to make their coral structure
in order to build coral reefs.
in order to build coral reefs.
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来筑造珊瑚礁。
05:56
As ocean acidity increases
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而随着海洋酸度增加
05:58
and the concentration
of carbonate ions decrease,
of carbonate ions decrease,
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和碳酸根离子的下降，
06:02
these species first find it more difficult
to make their shells.
to make their shells.
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一开始，这些物种会
很难筑造他们的家，
很难筑造他们的家，
06:07
And at even even lower levels,
they can actually begin to dissolve.
they can actually begin to dissolve.
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离子水平更低时，
它们甚至会开始溶解。
它们甚至会开始溶解。
06:12
This here is a pteropod,
it's called a sea butterfly.
it's called a sea butterfly.
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这是一个翼足目软体动物，被称做海蝶。
06:15
And it's an important food source
in the ocean for many species,
in the ocean for many species,
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它是海洋中许多生物的重要食物来源，
06:18
from krill to salmon right up to whales.
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包括磷虾、鲑鱼一直到鲸鱼。
06:23
The shell of the pteropod
was placed into seawater
was placed into seawater
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我们把海蝶的壳放进海水中，
海水的pH值设定在我们预测的
本世纪末海水的pH值。
本世纪末海水的pH值。
06:26
at a pH that we're expecting
by the end of this century.
by the end of this century.
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06:31
After only 45 days
at this very realistic pH,
at this very realistic pH,
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仅仅在45天后，在如此低的pH环境里，
你们可以看到它的壳
几乎被完全溶解了。
几乎被完全溶解了。
06:37
you can see the shell
has almost completely dissolved.
has almost completely dissolved.
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06:41
So ocean acidification could affect
right up through the food chain --
right up through the food chain --
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所以海洋酸化能通过影响食物链，
直接影响到我们的食物来源。
06:45
and right onto our dinner plates.
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06:48
I mean who here
likes shellfish? Or salmon?
likes shellfish? Or salmon?
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你们这里有谁喜欢吃
贝类或是鲑鱼的吗？
贝类或是鲑鱼的吗？
06:52
Or many other fish species
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或是别的食物来源
06:54
whose food source
in the ocean could be affected?
in the ocean could be affected?
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会被影响到的鱼类？
06:58
These are cold-water corals.
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这些是冷水珊瑚礁。
实际上，在爱尔兰海域
也有冷水珊瑚礁，
也有冷水珊瑚礁，
07:00
And did you know we actually have
cold-water corals in Irish waters,
cold-water corals in Irish waters,
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07:03
just off our continental shelf?
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就在大陆架上。
07:06
And they support rich biodiversity,
including some very important fisheries.
including some very important fisheries.
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它们维护着包括许多
重要渔场的生物多样性 。
重要渔场的生物多样性 。
07:10
It's projected that
by the end of this century,
by the end of this century,
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预计在本世纪末，
07:14
70 percent of all known cold-water corals
in the entire ocean
in the entire ocean
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整个海洋中70%已知的冷水珊瑚礁
07:20
will be surrounded by seawater
that is dissolving their coral structure.
that is dissolving their coral structure.
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将生活在会溶解珊瑚结构的海水中。
07:28
The last example I have
are these healthy tropical corals.
are these healthy tropical corals.
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我要举的最后一个例子是
这些健康的热带珊瑚礁。
这些健康的热带珊瑚礁。
07:33
They were placed in seawater at a pH
we're expecting by the year 2100.
we're expecting by the year 2100.
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它们被放在我们预测
2100年会达到的pH值的海水中。
2100年会达到的pH值的海水中。
07:39
After six months, the coral
has almost completely dissolved.
has almost completely dissolved.
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六个月后这些珊瑚
几乎被完全溶解了。
几乎被完全溶解了。
07:46
Now coral reefs support
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如今珊瑚礁维持着
07:48
25 percent of all marine life
in the entire ocean.
in the entire ocean.
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整个海洋中25%的海洋生物的生命。
07:55
All marine life.
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所有的海洋生物。
07:58
So you can see: ocean
acidification is a global threat.
acidification is a global threat.
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所以你们可以看出：海洋酸化
是一个全球性的威胁。
是一个全球性的威胁。
08:03
I have an eight-month-old baby boy.
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我有一个八个月大的儿子。
08:05
Unless we start now to slow this down,
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除非我们从现在开始减慢酸化速度，
否则我都不敢想象我的儿子
长大后，海洋将变成什么样。
长大后，海洋将变成什么样。
08:10
I dread to think what our oceans
will look like when he's a grown man.
will look like when he's a grown man.
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08:15
We will see acidification.
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我们将看到海洋酸化。
08:17
We have already put too much
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
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我们已经向大气中排放了
太多的二氧化碳。
太多的二氧化碳。
08:23
But we can slow this down.
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但是我们可以放慢酸化速度。
08:26
We can prevent the worst-case scenario.
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我们可以阻止最坏的状况发生。
08:30
The only way of doing that
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唯一的方法是
减少碳排放量。
08:33
is by reducing our
carbon dioxide emissions.
carbon dioxide emissions.
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08:37
This is important for both you and I,
for industry, for governments.
for industry, for governments.
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这对你我、工业界和
政府来说，都至关重要。
政府来说，都至关重要。
08:41
We need to work together,
slow down global warming
slow down global warming
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我们需要携手努力，放慢全球变暖，
08:45
slow down ocean acidification
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放慢海洋酸化，
08:48
and help to maintain a healthy ocean
and a healthy planet
and a healthy planet
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维护健康的海洋，和健康的地球，
为了我们这一代，
也为了我们的后代。
也为了我们的后代。
08:52
for our generation
and for generations to come.
and for generations to come.
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08:57
(Applause)
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（掌声）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Triona McGrath - Chemical oceanographerTriona McGrath researches how the oceans are changing due to human activities.
Why you should listen
Dr. Triona McGrath researches how the oceans are changing due to human activities, particularly in relation to ocean acidification. Specifically, McGrath monitors levels of carbon dioxide in Irish marine waters to determine the accumulation and movement of carbon in the ocean and subsequent increase in ocean acidity. McGrath and her colleagues published the first rates of ocean acidification for Irish offshore waters and the first baseline dataset of carbon parameters in Irish coastal waters. This is crucial in our understanding of the future health of our oceans along with providing information to determine the impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.
McGrath is a post-doctorate researcher at the National University of Ireland, Galway, funded by the Marine Institute, Ireland. She has been researching ocean climate change since 2008; her latest research project started in February 2017, and for the next four years she will work with colleagues to further develop ocean acidification research in Ireland through the continuation of an ongoing time series in the Rockall Trough and the determination of seasonal and interannual variability of the carbon system in coastal waters. McGrath is a Fulbright Scholar, receiving a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship in 2013 to visit Prof. Andrew Dickson’s laboratory at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego to further develop analytical skills in ocean carbon chemistry.
McGrath has a Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography and Bachelor of Marine Science from the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Triona McGrath | Speaker | TED.com