Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
Peter Etnoyer is a Graduate Research Associate at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He studies deep corals and ocean fronts, and he loves to be on the water.
Kevin Zelnio is a Graduate Student Researcher at Penn State studying the ecology of hydrothermal vent and methane seep communities. He raises awareness of the plight of the spineless through folk music.
By volume, land makes up only 0.5% of the earth and the shallow seas 21%. The deep is 78.5%. That thin, little red strip at 0.5% represents the part we've explored. Every day will yield something new as we continue to explore this remote vastness.
Unfortunately if I redrew the figure above, replacing the part we've explored with a wedge of the percentage of the deep sea we have affected, it would be much larger. We are beginning to have a detrimental impact on the deep, perhaps the last pristine part of planet. Mining, overfishing, dumping of our waste, chemical-laced runoff from our daily activities, impacts of climate change, are beginning to change the environment I love. Although we know little of this environment, our presence is already there. I urge you in 2008 to help us fight for the deep sea by continuing to inform yourself and becoming active.
In 2008, every week or so I will ask you to do just one thing (The Just One Thing Challenge). It will be a small request but our combined efforts will be large. Just last year by teaming up, we funded several classrooms to help educate youth about our oceans. Hopefully over time, we will add to our ranks and our impact will grow.
Today I cheat and ask you two things for the coming week. First, if you are willing to accept my challenge I ask for a bit of your time to post a note below saying so. This is important so I know people care and to let others know there is a community of us concerned. Second, I ask you to keep reading DSN and stick with the challenge through 2008.
Environment
Comments
I suspect that "land" figure is wrong. We keep finding primative life deeper and deeper in the rocks. The volume keeps growing.
About, even deep sea life being affected, welcome to the anthropocene. Some geologists are saying the Holocene is over, as we are now the primary driver of change on the planet.
Posted by: bigTom | January 26, 2008 7:05 PM
I'm with you craig! We should get rubber bracelets, black for deep ocean, with the words Live Deep embedded in it.
Posted by: kevin z | January 26, 2008 7:19 PM
Like we need another bit of plastic in the world, Kevin. [/tongue in cheek]
Well, I guess I can agree to those two challenges. We'll see how far I can go with further challenges.
Posted by: MikeG | January 26, 2008 7:26 PM
Ok. I'm with you. Reading DSN is out of my field, but I'm interested, so whatever I can do, I will.
Good Luck!!
Posted by: Farne | January 26, 2008 10:00 PM
I'm willing to accept your challenge, but do I really have to keep reading DSN?
Posted by: Jim Lemire | January 26, 2008 10:09 PM
When do we build a raft city? It's a better way to live in the sea without the HUGE pressure that under water cities must endure.
Every few months we can vote on what weather we want to have and just sail to the right coordinates on the globe.
It shouldn't be too tough to construct. I've read about a water treatment / nuclear power plant that floats on the water. It might be it!
Posted by: Kiki | January 27, 2008 8:00 AM
As I move more of my own fisheries research into the mesopelagic, it's probably only a matter of time before I start in on the bathypelagics too -- count me in for the DSN 2008 challenge.
Posted by: FishGuyDave | January 27, 2008 9:42 AM
As long as these challenges don't involve eating disgusting things like on Fear Factor, I'm game.
I'm currently reading DSN from my field site in the remote South Pacific, by DIAL-UP...because I'm that kind of geek.
Posted by: CK | January 27, 2008 12:26 PM
I'm in! I can't wait to find out how I'm hurting the Deep Sea ...so that I can stop.
Posted by: Karen James | January 27, 2008 1:10 PM
Karen, ride the Beagle next time you come over to the state instead of flying...
Posted by: kevin z | January 27, 2008 5:49 PM
I really apreaciate you because you really care about ocean and sea life. Oceans are important for the planet and human civilisation. Not only that provides food, but oceans are the main factor in climate change. For whom is insterested in the matter, visit www.1ocean-1climate.com
Posted by: Adrianne | January 29, 2008 3:59 AM
I'll keep it on track with the high school students I work with.
Posted by: Merisea | January 29, 2008 5:35 AM
I'm in.
Also, am I allowed to extend some of your ideas and suggestions for change at work? (Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre?)
Posted by: Keely | January 29, 2008 7:47 PM
Keely,
Most definitely!
Posted by: CR McClain | January 29, 2008 8:57 PM
Wait... the planet is made of water, with the land floating on top? Methinks there's something wrong here...
Posted by: outeast | January 30, 2008 2:16 AM
You know what, I'm ready to make a change or two (or 52?) too. I'm already off the Tuna - what else have you got. I'm in!
Posted by: tonyj | January 30, 2008 3:19 AM
I'm in!
Bring on the challenges :)
Posted by: Ashley | January 30, 2008 6:52 AM
Add me to your list of participants -- I'm in!
Posted by: Traci | January 30, 2008 12:07 PM
Outeast,
It's by volume not by area. Area would look different but the deep-sea floor would still be the winner.
Big Tom,
The land figure may be wrong as you stated "We keep finding primative life deeper and deeper in the rocks". But the there is no reason to consider that the deeper and deeper we begin to sample into the ocean floor the volume won't grow to. For land it would have to be considerable to account change the figures above.
Posted by: CR McClain | January 30, 2008 3:35 PM
OK. How's less fish and chips for a start?
Posted by: Peter Mc | January 30, 2008 4:40 PM
I'm in!
Posted by: Tony D | January 30, 2008 5:07 PM
Count me in! If I can do it, I will. :-) :-D
Posted by: Mrs Hilary Victoria Minor | January 31, 2008 8:07 AM
I'm more of a shallow gulf gal, but count me in!
Posted by: slim | January 31, 2008 7:25 PM
I'm in as well. I'll do my best to meet the challenges. & absolutely yes on the keep reading DSN.
Posted by: silver | February 2, 2008 10:26 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: Steve W | February 4, 2008 5:22 AM
Sounds good. Count me in
Posted by: John Hill | February 4, 2008 3:53 PM
Count me in too!
Posted by: Miriam Goldstein | February 6, 2008 9:04 AM
Count me in!
Posted by: rachel | February 6, 2008 10:53 AM
I'm in. BTW, the link to this post in #2 and 3 isn't working.
Posted by: tjewell | February 10, 2008 9:39 AM
I'm in!
Posted by: Eric | February 10, 2008 1:18 PM
I'm in!
Posted by: jebyrnes | February 12, 2008 11:37 AM
Me too!
Posted by: Ole | February 17, 2008 12:00 PM
A bit late signing up, but count me in.
BTW, I already use reusable bags and buy organic where possible, so I think I'm covered for the first couple of things. :-)
Posted by: Lynna Landstreet | February 17, 2008 12:45 PM
I'm late too, but I care and I want to try and make a difference!
Posted by: Carrie | February 17, 2008 4:22 PM
Great to have everyone on board and I just want to say its never too late! Anyone can tag along on the Just One Thing train at anytime.
Posted by: Kevin Z | February 17, 2008 5:34 PM
I'll join too.
Posted by: Max | February 18, 2008 10:02 AM
I just hopped on the JOT train...trying challenge #4 this week - Buy organic when it's an option. I love DSN; it's one of my favorite webescapes.
Posted by: Marsh | February 21, 2008 12:58 PM
On the bandwagon.
Posted by: ~summer~ | February 22, 2008 4:35 PM
I'm in... I think you got me with the cage match with Oprah's people later this year. ;)
Posted by: brenda | March 17, 2008 7:25 AM