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An estimated 8 million metric tons (MMT) of plastic waste enters
the world's ocean each year - the equivalent of dumping a garbage
truck of plastic waste into the ocean every minute. Plastic waste
is now found in almost every marine habitat, from the ocean surface
to deep sea sediments to the ocean's vast mid-water region, as well
as the Great Lakes. This report responds to a request in the
bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act for a scientific synthesis of the
role of the United States both in contributing to and responding to
global ocean plastic waste. The United States is a major producer
of plastics and in 2016, generated more plastic waste by weight and
per capita than any other nation. Although the U.S. solid waste
management system is advanced, it is not sufficient to deter
leakage into the environment. Reckoning with the U.S. Role in
Global Ocean Plastic Waste calls for a national strategy by the end
of 2022 to reduce the nation's contribution to global ocean plastic
waste at every step - from production to its entry into the
environment - including by substantially reducing U.S. solid waste
generation. This report also recommends a nationally-coordinated
and expanded monitoring system to track plastic pollution in order
to understand the scales and sources of U.S. plastic waste, set
reduction and management priorities, and measure progress. Table of
Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Plastic Production
and Global Trade 3 Plastic Waste and Its Management 4 Physical
Transport and Pathways to the Ocean 5 Distribution and Fate of
Plastic Waste in the Ocean 6 Tracking and Monitoring Systems for
Ocean Plastic Waste 7 Interventions for U.S. Contributions to
Global Ocean Plastic Waste References Appendixes Appendix A:
Biographies of the Committee on the United States Contributions to
Global Ocean Plastic Waste Appendix B: Definitions and Acronyms
Appendix C: Legal Framework Appendix D: Estuary Table Appendix E:
Global Instruments and Activities Relevant to Ocean Plastic
Pollution
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Improving Fish Stock Assessments (Paperback)
Committee on Fish Stock Assessment Methods, National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Ocean Studies Board, Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources
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R1,866
Discovery Miles 18 660
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Ocean harvests have plateaued worldwide and many important
commercial stocks have been depleted. This has caused great concern
among scientists, fishery managers, the fishing community, and the
public. This book evaluates the major models used for estimating
the size and structure of marine fish populations (stock
assessments) and changes in populations over time. It demonstrates
how problems that may occur in fisheries data--for example
underreporting or changes in the likelihood that fish can be caught
with a given type of gear--can seriously degrade the quality of
stock assessments. The volume makes recommendations for means to
improve stock assessments and their use in fishery management.
Many coastal areas of the United States are at risk for tsunamis.
After the catastrophic 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean,
legislation was passed to expand U.S. tsunami warning capabilities.
Since then, the nation has made progress in several related areas
on both the federal and state levels. At the federal level, NOAA
has improved the ability to detect and forecast tsunamis by
expanding the sensor network. Other federal and state activities to
increase tsunami safety include: improvements to tsunami hazard and
evacuation maps for many coastal communities; vulnerability
assessments of some coastal populations in several states; and new
efforts to increase public awareness of the hazard and how to
respond.
Tsunami Warning and Preparedness explores the advances made in
tsunami detection and preparedness, and identifies the challenges
that still remain. The book describes areas of research and
development that would improve tsunami education, preparation, and
detection, especially with tsunamis that arrive less than an hour
after the triggering event. It asserts that seamless coordination
between the two Tsunami Warning Centers and clear communications to
local officials and the public could create a timely and effective
response to coastal communities facing a pending tsuanami.
According to Tsunami Warning and Preparedness, minimizing future
losses to the nation from tsunamis requires persistent progress
across the broad spectrum of efforts including: risk assessment,
public education, government coordination, detection and
forecasting, and warning-center operations. The book also suggests
designing effective interagency exercises, using professional
emergency-management standards to prepare communities, and
prioritizing funding based on tsunami risk.
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Review of Fate, Exposure, and Effects of Sunscreens in Aquatic Environments and Implications for Sunscreen Usage and Human Health (Paperback)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Health Sciences Policy, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, …
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Discovery Miles 16 060
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Regular use of sunscreens has been shown to reduce the risk of
sunburn and skin cancer, and slow photoaging of skin. Sunscreens
can rinse off into water where people are swimming or wading, and
can also enter bodies of water through wastewater such as from
bathing or showering. As a result, the ultraviolet (UV) filters -
the active ingredients in sunscreens that reduce the amount of UV
radiation on skin - have been detected in the water, sediment, and
animal tissues in aquatic environments. Because the impact of these
filters on aquatic ecosystems is not fully understood, assessment
is needed to better understand their environmental impacts. This
report calls on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct
an ecological risk assessment of UV filters to characterize the
possible risks to aquatic ecosystems and the species that live in
them. EPA should focus on environments more likely to be exposed
such as those with heavy recreational use, or where wastewater and
urban runoff enter the water. The risk assessment should cover a
broad range of species and biological effects and could consider
potential interacting effects among UV filters and with other
environmental stresses such as climate change. In addition, the
report describes the role of sunscreens in preventing skin cancer
and what is known about how human health could be affected by
potential changes in usage. While the need for a risk assessment is
urgent, research is needed to advance understanding of both risks
to the environment from UV filters and impacts to human health from
changing sunscreen availability and usage. Table of Contents Front
Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Introduction to Sunscreens and
Their UV Filters 3 Problem Formulation: Sources, Settings, and
Ecological Receptors 4 Fate, Transport, and Potential Exposure in
the Environment 5 Bioaccumulation and Measured Concentrations of UV
Filters in Biota 6 Review of Studies on the Effects of UV Filters
in Aquatic Environments 7 Sunscreen, Preventive Health Behaviors,
and Implications of Changes in Sunscreen Use for Public Health 8
Conclusions and Recommendations Appendix A: Committee Member
Biographies Appendix B: UV Filter Usage Appendix C: UV Filter Water
and Sediment Occurrence Data Appendix D: Supplementary Information
for Bioaccumulation Appendix E: UV Filter Toxicity Data Tables
Appendix F: Studies on Behavioral and Physiological Endpoints on
Select Organic UV Filters Appendix G: Acronyms, Abbreviations, and
Units References
Atlantic salmon in Maine, once abundant but now seriously depleted,
were listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act
(ESA) in November 2000. The listing covers the wild fish in eight
Maine rivers as a single "distinct population segment." The
controversy in Maine that accompanied the listing led Congress to
request the National Research Council's (NRC's) advice on the
science relevant to understanding and reversing the declines in
Maine's salmon populations. The charge to the NRC's Committee on
Atlantic Salmon in Maine included an interim report focusing on the
genetic makeup of Maine Atlantic salmon populations. This is the
interim report. Understanding the genetic makeup of Maine's salmon
is important for recovery efforts, because the degree to which
populations in Maine differ from adjacent populations in Canada and
the degree to which populations in different Maine rivers and
tributaries differ from each other affect the choice of recovery
options that are most likely to be effective. This report focuses
only on questions of genetic distinctiveness. The committee's final
report will address the broader issues, such as the factors that
have caused Maine's salmon populations to decline and the options
for helping them to recover.
The sea ice surrounding Antarctica has increased in extent and
concentration from the late 1970s, when satellite-based
measurements began, until 2015. Although this increasing trend is
modest, it is surprising given the overall warming of the global
climate and the region. Indeed, climate models, which incorporate
our best understanding of the processes affecting the region,
generally simulate a decrease in sea ice. Moreover, sea ice in the
Arctic has exhibited pronounced declines over the same period,
consistent with global climate model simulations. For these
reasons, the behavior of Antarctic sea ice has presented a
conundrum for global climate change science. The National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a workshop in January
2016, to bring together scientists with different sets of expertise
and perspectives to further explore potential mechanisms driving
the evolution of recent Antarctic sea ice variability and to
discuss ways to advance understanding of Antarctic sea ice and its
relationship to the broader ocean-climate system. This publication
summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.
Table of Contents Front Matter Antarctic Sea Ice Variability in the
Southern Ocean-Climate System: Proceedings of a Workshop References
Appendix A: Statement of Task Appendix B: Definitions of Key Terms
Appendix C: Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix D: Workshop Agenda
and Participants Appendix E: Invited Speaker Abstracts Appendix F:
Biographical Sketches of Planning Committee Members
Marine mammals face a large array of stressors, including loss of
habitat, chemical and noise pollution, and bycatch in fishing,
which alone kills hundreds of thousands of marine mammals per year
globally. To discern the factors contributing to population trends,
scientists must consider the full complement of threats faced by
marine mammals. Once populations or ecosystems are found to be at
risk of adverse impacts, it is critical to decide which combination
of stressors to reduce to bring the population or ecosystem into a
more favorable state. Assessing all stressors facing a marine
mammal population also provides the environmental context for
evaluating whether an additional activity could threaten it.
Approaches to Understanding the Cumulative Effects of Stressors on
Marine Mammals builds upon previous reports to assess current
methodologies used for evaluating cumulative effects and identify
new approaches that could improve these assessments. This review
focuses on ways to quantify exposure-related changes in the
behavior, health, or body condition of individual marine mammals
and makes recommendations for future research initiatives. Table of
Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Estimating Exposure
and Effects of Sound on Wildlife 3 Current Understanding of
Stressors 4 Assessing Interactions Among Stressors 5 Modeling the
Population Consequences of Exposure to Multiple Stressors 6
Interactions Among Stressors and Challenges to Understanding Their
Cumulative Effects 7 Early Warning Signs of Risk to Populations 8
Approaches to Assess Cumulative Impacts References Appendix A:
Workshop Agenda Appendix B: Relevant Laws and Regulations Appendix
C: Committee and Staff Biographies Appendix D: Glossary
The ocean has absorbed a significant portion of all human-made
carbon dioxide emissions. This benefits human society by moderating
the rate of climate change, but also causes unprecedented changes
to ocean chemistry. Carbon dioxide taken up by the ocean decreases
the pH of the water and leads to a suite of chemical changes
collectively known as ocean acidification. The long term
consequences of ocean acidification are not known, but are expected
to result in changes to many ecosystems and the services they
provide to society. Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy to
Meet the Challenges of a Changing Ocean reviews the current state
of knowledge, explores gaps in understanding, and identifies
several key findings. Like climate change, ocean acidification is a
growing global problem that will intensify with continued CO2
emissions and has the potential to change marine ecosystems and
affect benefits to society. The federal government has taken
positive initial steps by developing a national ocean acidification
program, but more information is needed to fully understand and
address the threat that ocean acidification may pose to marine
ecosystems and the services they provide. In addition, a global
observation network of chemical and biological sensors is needed to
monitor changes in ocean conditions attributable to acidification.
Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Effects of
Ocean Acidification on the Chemistry of Seawater 3 Effects of Ocean
Acidification on the Physiology ofMarine Organisms 4 Effects of
Ocean Acidification on Marine Ecosystems 5 Socioeconomic Concerns 6
A National Ocean Acidification Program References Appendix A:
Committee and Staff Biographies Appendix B: Acronyms Appendix C:
The Effect of Ocean Acidification on Calcification in Calcifying
Algae, Corals,and Carbonate-dominated Systems Appendix D: Summary
of Research Recommendations from Community-based References
Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management
Act (FCMA), managers are required to use the a /best scientific
information availablea in the preparation of federal fishery
management plans (National Standard 2 in the FCMA). However, the
Act provides no further guidance as to how conformance to this
standard should be determined. Because adherence to this standard
has often been contentious, Congress has considered adding a
definition for what constitutes a /best scientific information
availablea in the reauthorization of the FCMA. This report examines
both the current application and the controversy over the standard
and concludes that a legislative definition would be too inflexible
to accommodate regional differences and future advances in science
and technology. Instead, the report recommends that NOAA Fisheries
adopt procedural guidelines to ensure that the scientific
information used in the development of fishery management plans is
relevant and timely and is the product of processes characterized
by inclusiveness, transparency and openness, timeliness, and peer
review.
This book describes the development of ocean sciences over the past
50 years, highlighting the contributions of the National Science
Foundation (NSF) to the field's progress. Many of the individuals
who participated in the exciting discoveries in biological
oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography, and
marine geology and geophysics describe in the book how the
discoveries were made possible by combinations of insightful
individuals, new technology, and in some cases, serendipity. In
addition to describing the advance of ocean science, the book
examines the institutional structures and technology that made the
advances possible and presents visions of the field's future. This
book is the first-ever documentation of the history of NSF's
Division of Ocean Sciences, how the structure of the division
evolved to its present form, and the individuals who have been
responsible for ocean sciences at NSF as "rotators" and career
staff over the past 50 years. Table of Contents Front Matter
Keynote Lecture The Emergence of the National Science Foundation as
a Supporter of Ocean Sciences in the United States Landmark
Achievements of Ocean Sciences Achievements in Biological
Oceanography Achievements in Chemical Oceanography Achievements in
Physical Oceanography Achievements in Marine Geology and Geophysics
Deep Submergence: The Beginnings of Alvin as a Tool of Basic
Research The History of Woods Hole's Deep Submergence Program
Creating Institutions to Make Scientific Discoveries Possible A
Chronology of the Early Development of Ocean Sciences at NSF Ocean
Sciences at the National Sciences Foundation: Early Revolution
Ocean Sciences at the National Sciences Foundation: An
Administrative History Two Years of Turbulence Leading to a Quarter
Century of Cooperation: The Birth of UNOLS Scientific Ocean
Drilling, from AMSOC to COMPOST Technology Development for Ocean
Sciences at NSF Large and Small Science Programs: A Delicate
Balance The Great Importance of "Small" Science Programs The Role
of NSF in "Big" Ocean Science: 1950 to 1980 Major Physical
Oceanography Programs at NSF: IDOE Through Global Change Major
International Programs in Ocean Sciences: Ocean Chemistry Ocean
Sciences Today and Tomorrow The Future of Physical Oceanography The
Future of Ocean Chemistry in the United States The Future of Marine
Geology and Geophysics: A Summary Out Far and In Deep: Shifting
Perspectives in Ocean Ecology Global Ocean Science: Toward an
Integrated Approach Education in Oceanography: History, Purpose,
and Prognosis Evolving Institutional Arrangements for U.S. Ocean
Sciences NSF's Commitment to the Deep Fifty Years of Ocean
Discovery Argo to ARGO The Importance of Ocean Sciences to Society
Appendix A: Symposium Program Appendix B: Symposium Participants
Appendix C: Poster Session Appendix D: NSF Division of Ocean
Sciences: Senior Science Staff, Rotators, IPAs, and Visiting
Sciences Appendix E: Support of Ocean Sciences at NSF from 1966 to
1999 Appendix F: Organizational Charts Appendix G: NRC Project
Oversight Appendix H: Acronyms Index Supplementary Pictures
As of 2021, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have reached
historically unprecedented levels, higher than at any time in the
past 800,000 years. Worldwide efforts to reduce emissions by
creating a more efficient, carbon-free energy system may not be
enough to stabilize the climate and avoid the worst impacts of
climate change. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies, which
remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, likely will be
needed to meet global climate goals. The ocean, covering 70% of the
Earth's surface, includes much of the global capacity for natural
carbon sequestration; the ocean also holds great potential for
uptake and longerterm sequestration of human-produced CO2. This
report builds on previous work from the National Academies to
assess what is currently known about the benefits, risks, and
potential for responsible scale-up of six specific ocean-based CDR
strategies as identified by the sponsor, ClimateWorks Foundation.
It describes the research needed to advance understanding of those
approaches and address knowledge gaps. The resulting research
agenda is meant to provide an improved and unbiased knowledge base
for the public, stakeholders, and policymakers to make informed
decisions on the next steps for ocean CDR, as part of a larger
climate mitigation strategy; it is not meant to lock in or advocate
for any particular approach. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary
1 Introduction 2 Crosscutting Considerations on Ocean-based CDR
R&D 3 Nutrient Fertilization 4 Artificial Upwelling and
Downwelling 5 Seaweed Cultivation 6 Recovery of Marine Ecosystems 7
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement 8 Electrochemical Engineering
Approaches 9 Synthesis and Research Strategy References Acronyms
and Abbreviations Appendix A: Committee Biographies Appendix B:
Workshop and Meeting Public Presentations to the Committee
In the United States (U.S.), the Fishery Conservation and
Management Act of 1976, now known as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), was the first major
legislation to regulate federal fisheries in the U.S. Fishery
Conservation Zone (later designated as the U.S. exclusive economic
zone). The re-authorization of the MSFCMA passed by Congress in
2006 included additional mandates for conserving and rebuilding
fish stocks and strengthening the role of scientific advice in
fisheries management. Approximately 20% of the fisheries that have
been assessed are considered overfished according to the September
2012 stock status Report to Congress prepared by the U.S. National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Overfished refers to
a stock that is below the minimum stock size threshold, commonly
set to half the stock size at which maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
is achieved. Under the provisions of the MSFCMA, rebuilding plans
for overfished stocks should take no more than 10 years, except
when certain provisions apply. Rebuilding mandates have led to
substantial reductions in catch and effort for many fisheries,
raising concerns about the consequent social and economic impacts
to the fishing communities and industry. Evaluating the
Effectiveness of Fish Stock Rebuilding Plans in the United States
reviews the technical specifications that underlie current
federally-implemented rebuilding plans, and the outcomes of those
plans. According to this report, fisheries management has evolved
substantially since 1977 when the U.S. extended its jurisdiction to
8 200 miles, in the direction of being more prescriptive and
precautionary in terms of preventing overfishing and rebuilding
overfished fisheries. However, the trade-offs between precaution
and yield have not been fully evaluated. Evaluating the
Effectiveness of Fish Stock Rebuilding Plans in the United States
discusses the methods and criteria used to set target fishing
mortality and biomass levels for rebuilding overfished stocks, and
to determine the probability that a particular stock will rebuild
by a certain date. This report will be of interest to the fishing
industry, ecology professionals, and members of Congress as they
debate the renewal of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1
Introduction 2 U.S. Fisheries Management and the Law 3 Review of
Federally Implemented Rebuilding Plans 4 Technical Considerations
in Developing Rebuilding Plans 5 Ecosystem Considerations 6 Human
Dimensions of Rebuilding 7 Looking Forward References Appendix A:
Committee and Staff Biographies Appendix B: List of Acronyms
Appendix C: Time Series Plots
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for
collecting information on marine recreational angling. It does so
principally through the Marine Recreational Information Program
(MRIP), a survey program that consists of an in-person survey at
fishing access sites and a mail survey, in addition to other
complementary or alternative surveys. Data collected from anglers
through MRIP supply fisheries managers with essential information
for assessing fish stocks. In 2006, the National Research Council
provided an evaluation of MRIP's predecessor, the Marine
Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS). That review,
Review of Recreational Fisheries Survey Methods, presented
conclusions and recommendations in six categories: sampling issues;
statistical estimation issues; human dimensions; program management
and support; communication and outreach; and general
recommendations. After spending nearly a decade addressing the
recommendations, NMFS requested another evaluation of its modified
survey program (MRIP). This report, the result of that evaluation,
serves as a 10-year progress report. It recognizes the progress
that NMFS has made, including major improvements in the statistical
soundness of its survey designs, and also highlights some remaining
challenges and provides recommendations for addressing them. Table
of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Study Design and
Estimation Considerations for the MRIP 3 Sampling and Statistical
Estimation for the Fishing Effort Survey 4 Sampling and Statistical
Estimation for the Angler Intercept Survey 5 Framework for
Continued Scientific Evaluation, Review, and Certification 6 Degree
of Coordination 7 Communication and Outreach with Stakeholders 8
Plans for Maintaining Continuity References Appendix A: Committee
and Staff Biographies Appendix B: Review of Recreational Fisheries
Survey Methods (NRC, 2006) Summary Appendix C: Table of National
Research Council (2006) Recommendations Appendix D: Excerpt from
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Reauthorization Act of 2006 Appendix E: Survey Instruments Appendix
F: 2014 Calibration Workshops Appendix G: Acronym List
Gulf Coast communities and natural resources suffered extensive
direct and indirect damage as a result of the largest accidental
oil spill in US history, referred to as the Deepwater Horizon (DWH)
oil spill. Notably, natural resources affected by this major spill
include wetlands, coastal beaches and barrier islands, coastal and
marine wildlife, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, commercial fisheries,
deep benthos, and coral reefs, among other habitats and species.
Losses include an estimated 20% reduction in commercial fishery
landings across the Gulf of Mexico and damage to as much as 1,100
linear miles of coastal salt marsh wetlands. This historic spill is
being followed by a restoration effort unparalleled in complexity
and magnitude in U.S. history. Legal settlements in the wake of DWH
led to the establishment of a set of programs tasked with
administering and supporting DWH-related restoration in the Gulf of
Mexico. In order to ensure that restoration goals are met and money
is well spent, restoration monitoring and evaluation should be an
integral part of those programs. However, evaluations of past
restoration efforts have shown that monitoring is often inadequate
or even absent. Effective Monitoring to Evaluate Ecological
Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico identifies best practices for
monitoring and evaluating restoration activities to improve the
performance of restoration programs and increase the effectiveness
and longevity of restoration projects. This report provides general
guidance for restoration monitoring, assessment, and synthesis that
can be applied to most ecological restoration supported by these
major programs given their similarities in restoration goals. It
also offers specific guidance for a subset of habitats and taxa to
be restored in the Gulf including oyster reefs, tidal wetlands, and
seagrass habitats, as well as a variety of birds, sea turtles, and
marine mammals. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary Part I:
General Principles of Effective Monitoring and Evaluation 1
Introduction 2 Gulf Restoration Programs 3 Restoration Project
Monitoring 4 Monitoring Beyond the Project Scale or Duration 5 Data
Stewardship 6 Synthesis and Integration 7 How Monitoring Improves
Restoration Effectiveness Part I References Part II: Good Practices
for Monitoring Restoration of Selected Habitats and Species of
Concern Introduction Oyster Reef Restoration Monitoring Tidal
Wetland Restoration Monitoring Seagrass Restoration Monitoring Bird
Restoration Monitoring Sea Turtle Restoration Monitoring Marine
Mammal Restoration Monitoring Appendix A: Committee and Staff
Biographies Appendix B: Glossary
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Scientific Ocean Drilling - Accomplishments and Challenges (Paperback)
National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Ocean Studies Board, Committee on the Review of the Scientific Accomplishments and Assessment of the Potential for Future Transformative Discoveries with U.S.-Supported Scientific Ocean Drilling
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R1,275
Discovery Miles 12 750
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Through direct exploration of the subseafloor, U.S.-supported
scientific ocean drilling programs have significantly contributed
to a broad range of scientific accomplishments in Earth science
disciplines, shaping understanding of Earth systems and enabling
new fields of inquiry. Scientific Ocean Drilling: Accomplishments
and Challenges reviews the scientific accomplishments of
U.S.-supported scientific ocean drilling over the past four
decades. The book evaluates how the programs (Deep Sea Drilling
Project [DSDP], 1968-1983, Ocean Drilling Program [ODP], 1984-2003,
and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program [IODP], 2003-2013) have
shaped understanding of Earth systems and Earth history and
assessed the role of scientific ocean drilling in enabling new
fields of inquiry. This book also assesses the potential for
transformative discoveries for the next proposed phase of
scientific ocean drilling, which is scheduled to run from 2013 to
2023. The programs' technological innovations have played a strong
role in these accomplishments. The science plan for the proposed
2013-2023 program presents a strong case for the continuation of
scientific ocean drilling. Each of the plan's four themes
identifies compelling challenges with potential for transformative
science that could only be addressed through scientific ocean
drilling, although some challenges appear to have greater potential
than others. Prioritizing science plan challenges and integrating
multiple objectives into single expeditions would help use
resources more effectively, while encouraging technological
innovations would continue to increase the potential for
groundbreaking science. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1
Introduction to U.S. Scientific Ocean Drilling 2 Scientific
Accomplishments: Solid Earth Cycles 3 Scientific Accomplishments:
Fluids, Flow, and Life in the Subseafloor 4 Scientific
Accomplishments: Earth's Climate History 5 Education, Outreach, and
Capacity Building 6 Assessment of Illuminating Earth's Past,
Present, and Future: The International Ocean Discovery Program
Science Plan for 2013-2023 References A DSDP, ODP, and IODP Legs
and Expeditions B Committee and Staff Biographies C Workshop White
Papers D Acronyms
Although the ocean-and the resources within-seem limitless, there
is clear evidence that human impacts such as overfishing, habitat
destruction, and pollution disrupt marine ecosystems and threaten
the long-term productivity of the seas. Declining yields in many
fisheries and decay of treasured marine habitats, such as coral
reefs, has heightened interest in establishing a comprehensive
system of marine protected areas (MPAs)-areas designated for
special protection to enhance the management of marine resources.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate how MPAs can be
employed in the United States and internationally as tools to
support specific conservation needs of marine and coastal waters.
Marine Protected Areas compares conventional management of marine
resources with proposals to augment these management strategies
with a system of protected areas. The volume argues that
implementation of MPAs should be incremental and adaptive, through
the design of areas not only to conserve resources, but also to
help us learn how to manage marine species more effectively. Table
of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary Introduction
Conservation Goals Conventional Management of Marine Fisheries
Societal Values of Marine Reserves and Protected Areas Empirical
and Modeling Studies of Marine Reserves Design Monitoring,
Research, and Modeling Historical Background and Evaluation of
Marine Protected Areas in the United Sates Conclusions and
Recommendations References Appendix A: Acronyms Appendix B:
Glossary Appendix C: Committee and Staff Biographies Appendix D:
Meeting Agendas Appendix E: Presidential Executive Order Regarding
Marine Protected Areas in the United States Appendix F: IUCN
Protected Area Categories System Appendix G: Description of Studies
Estimating Marine Reserve Area Requirements Index
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Oceanography and Mine Warfare (Paperback)
Ocean Studies Board, Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences
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R1,104
Discovery Miles 11 040
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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Environmental information is important for successful planning and
execution of naval operations. A thorough understanding of
environmental variability greatly increases the likelihood of
mission success. To ensure that naval forces have the most
up-to-date capabilities, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has an
extensive environmental research program. This research, to be of
greatest use to the warfighter, needs to be directed towards
assisting and solving battlefield problems. To increase research
community understanding of the operational demands placed on naval
operators and to facilitate discussion between these two groups,
the National Research Council's (NRC) Ocean Studies Board (OSB),
working with ONR and the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy,
convened five previous symposia on tactical oceanography.
"Oceanography and Mine Warfare" examines the following issues: (1)
how environmental data are used in current mine warfare doctrine,
(2) current procedures for in situ collection of data, (3) the
present capabilities of the Navy's oceanographic community to
provide supporting information for mine warfare operations, and (4)
the ability of oceanographic research and technology developments
to enhance current mine warfare capabilities. This report primarily
concentrates on the importance of oceanographic data for mine
countermeasures.
What can sharks teach us about our immune system? What can
horseshoe crabs show us about eyesight? The more we learn about the
ocean, the more we realize how critical these vast bodies of water
are to our health and well-being. Sometimes the ocean helps us, as
when a marine organism yields a new medical treatment. At other
times, the ocean poses the threat of coastal storm surges or toxic
algal blooms. From Monsoons to Microbes offers a deeper look into
the oceans that surround us, often nurturing yet sometimes harming
humankind. This book explores the links among physical
oceanography, public health, epidemiology, marine biology, and
medicine in understanding what the ocean has to offer. It will help
readers grasp such important points as: How the ocean's sweeping
physical processes create long-term phenomena such as El Nino and
short-term disastrous events such as tsunamis?including what
communities can do to prepare. What medicines and nutritional
products have come from the ocean and what the prospects are for
more such discoveries. How estuaries work?where salt and fresh
water meet?and what can go wrong, as in the 7,000 square mile "dead
zone" at the out-flow of the Mississippi River. How the growing
demand for seafood and the expansion of ocean-going transport has
increased our exposure to infectious agents?and how these agents
can be tracked down and fought. Why "red tides" of toxic algae
suddenly appear in previously unaffected coastal areas, and what
happens when algal toxins find their way into our food supply or
the air we breathe. The book recommends ways we can implement
exciting new technologies to monitor the physics, chemistry, and
biology of the ocean to recognize change as it happens. From the
impact of worldwide atmospheric warming to the significance of
exotic bacteria from submarine hydrothermal vents, the ocean has
many depths left to explore. Table of Contents Front Matter
Executive Summary Introduction 1 Climate and Weather, Coastal
Hazards, and Public Health 2 Oceans and Infectious Diseases 3
Harmful Algal Blooms 4 Marine-Derived Pharmaceuticals and Related
Bioactive Agents 5 Marine Organisms as Models for Biomedical
Research Literature Cited Appendix A: Committee Biographies
Appendix B: Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix C: Workshop Program
Index Color Plates
The San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary is a large, complex estuarine
ecosystem in California. It has been substantially altered by
dikes, levees, channelization, pumps, human development, introduced
species, dams on its tributary streams and contaminants. The Delta
supplies water from the state's wetter northern regions to the
drier southern regions and also serves as habitat for many species,
some of which are threatened and endangered. The restoration of
water exacerbated tensions over water allocation in recent years,
and have led to various attempts to develop comprehensive plans to
provide reliable water supplies and to protect the ecosystem. One
of these plans is the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).
The report, "A Review of the Use of Science and Adaptive Management
in California's Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan, " determines
that the plan is incomplete in a number of important areas and
takes this opportunity to identify key scientific and structural
gaps that, if addressed, could lead to a more successful and
comprehensive final BDCP. The plan is missing the type of structure
usually associated with current planning methods in which the goals
and objectives are specified, alternative measure for achieving the
objectives are introduced and analyzed, and a course of action in
identified based on analytical optimization of economic, social,
and environmental factors. Yet the panel underscores the importance
of a credible and a robust BDCP in addressing the various water
management problems that beset the Delta. A stronger, more
complete, and more scientifically credible BDCP that effectively
integrates and utilizes science could indeed pave the way toward
the next generation of solutions to California's chronic water
problems.
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Ecosystem Concepts for Sustainable Bivalve Mariculture (Paperback)
Committee on Best Practices for Shellfish Mariculture and the Effects of Commercial Activities in Drakes Estero, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California, Ocean Studies Board, National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies
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R1,553
Discovery Miles 15 530
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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U.S. mariculture production of bivalve molluscs-those cultivated in
the marine environment-has roughly doubled over the last 25 years.
Although mariculture operations may expand the production of
seafood without additional exploitation of wild populations, they
still depend upon and affect natural ecosystems and ecosystem
services. Every additional animal has an incremental effect arising
from food extraction and waste excretion. Increasing domestic
seafood production in the United States in an environmentally and
socially responsible way will likely require the use of policy
tools, such as best management practices (BMPs) and performance
standards.
BMPs represent one approach to protecting against undesirable
consequences of mariculture. An alternative approach to voluntary
or mandatory BMPs is the establishment of performance standards for
mariculture. Variability in environmental conditions makes it
difficult to develop BMPs that are sufficiently flexible and
adaptable to protect ecosystem integrity across a broad range of
locations and conditions. An alternative that measures performance
in sustaining key indicators of ecosystem state and function may be
more effective. Because BMPs address mariculture methods rather
than monitoring actual ecosystem responses, they do not guarantee
that detrimental ecosystem impacts will be controlled or that
unacceptable impact will be avoided.
Ecosystem Concepts for Sustainable Bivalve Mariculture finds that
while performance standards can be applied for some broad ecosystem
indicators, BMPs may be more appropriate for addressing parameters
that change from site to site, such as the species being cultured,
different culture methods, and various environmental conditions.
This book takes an in-depth look at the environmental, social, and
economic issues to present recommendations for sustainable bivalve
mariculture.
All six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters are listed as
endangered or threatened, but the exact population sizes of these
species are unknown due to a lack of key information regarding
birth and survival rates. The U.S. Endangered Species Act prohibits
the hunting of sea turtles and reduces incidental losses from
activities such as shrimp trawling and development on beaches used
for nesting. However, current monitoring does not provide enough
information on sea turtle populations to evaluate the effectiveness
of these protective measures. Sea Turtle Status and Trends reviews
current methods for assessing sea turtle populations and finds that
although counts of sea turtles are essential, more detailed
information on sea turtle biology, such as survival rates and
breeding patterns, is needed to predict and understand changes in
populations in order to develop successful management and
conservation plans. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1
Introduction 2 Units of Assessment 3 Conceptual Model of Sea-Turtle
Abundance and Demography 4 Abundance and Trends 5 Demographic Rates
6 Integrating Demographic Information with Abundance Estimates 7
Cross-Cutting Issues:Data, Education, Permits, and Coordination 8
Conclusions and Recommendations References A Brief History of
Alternative Genetic Markers B Population-Structure Models C
Committee and Staff Biographies
The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) was established by Congress
in 1997 to recommend marine research activities to the Secretary of
Commerce on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystem in the
North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Arctic Ocean, and related bodies
of water. NPRB called on the National Academies to develop a
comprehensive long range science plan pertaining to its research
activities. This assistance has been provided in two phases. In
phase one, beginning in early 2003, a National Academies committee
worked to understand the purpose of the NPRB, gather information to
help identify research needs, and provide advice on the components
of a sound science plan. The committee's assessment is contained in
a report released in early 2004, Elements of a Science Plan for the
North Pacific Research Board. With this guidance as a tool, the
NPRB staff, Science Panel, and Advisory Panel worked together to
write a draft science plan to steer the program in the coming
decade. During the second phase, the same committee reviewed the
NPRB's draft science plan and provided final feedback to the NPRB.
It is a focused review, generally following the organization of the
NPRB document. This report is intended primarily as a direct
communication from the committee to those planning the NPRB's
programs, to help them improve the science plan and ensure
successful implementation. Table of Contents Front Matter
Introduction to the North Pacific Research Board and the Purpose of
this Report General Committee Comments on the NPRB Draft Science
Plan Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 1 Comments on
NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 2 Comments on NPRB Draft Science
Plan - Chapter 3 Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 4
Comments on NPRB Draft Science Plan - Chapter 5 References A
Committee on a Science Plan for the North Pacific Research Board
Statement of Task difficulties and pitfalls. B Elements of a
Science Plan for the North Pacific Research Board: Interim Report
Executive Summary C Committee and Staff Biographies
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