Planet Ocean

Planet Earth is really Planet Ocean. The sea covers over two-thirds of the surface of the globe and makes up 97 percent (in volume) of the portion of the planet where life can exist. It plays a crucial role in regulating the climate and supplying us with food, energy and other raw materials. We still have much to learn about this vast and complex environment, and how it will alter in a rapidly changing world.

By 2025, just one generation away, many millions of people across the world are likely to be affected by global changes which involve the ocean. For example, the sea level could rise by more than ten centimetres if present trends continue, and the extent of Arctic summer sea-ice is predicted to decrease by about thirty percent - radically changing marine ecosystems and patterns of world trade. During the same time, our demand for natural resources from the sea is expected to increase by at least a third.

Oceans 2025

Oceans 2025 is addressing global change problems that involve the oceans. Starting in April 2007 this five-year NERC strategic marine research programme will improve our understanding of how the oceans behave, how they are responding to climate change and what impact this will have on society.

Seven UK marine centres (including POL), funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) designed Oceans 2025 as a cross-disciplinary partnership, coordinating their separate expertise. This approach to strategic marine science will be at the forefront of European and global research.

The programme is supporting several sustained ocean observing systems which provide an important source of data on the status of UK marine waters and the wider North East Atlantic that will be used for scientific research and evidence-based policy formulation. Knowledge exchange with stakeholders such as the IPCC, Met Office, Hadley Centre, Defra and the EA is central to the programme.