Earth system, oceans and marine ecosystems under global change

1
Earth system, oceans and marine ecosystems under
global change

• Potential members
• Colleen Moloney (MA-RE) Convener
• Juliet Hermes (SAEON) Co-convener
• Bjorn Backeberg (NTC) Writer
• Tarron Lamont (DEA)
• Grant Pitcher (DAFF)
• Ursula Scharler (UKZN)
• Pedro Monteiro (CSIR)
• Roy van Ballegooyen (CSIR)
• Francis Marsac (ICEMASA)
• John Field (UCT)
• Mike Lucas (UCT)
• Tommy Bornman (SAEON)
• Francois Engelbrecht (CSIR, Pretoria)
• Lorenzo P (NNMU)
• Thando Ndarana (SAWS)

Objective Advance the understanding of the
links between fine scale and the large scale for
the region Link the local, regional and global
scales within and across ecosystems
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Guiding principles

• Important principles
• What is the geographic advantage that makes us
  prominent?
• What is the scale sensitivity?
• How sensitive are the models to scale?
• How sensitive are models to the processes
  included?
• How are the systems coupled? Two dimensions (1)
  Across physical scales, (2) Across the ecosystem,
  (3) ocean-land-atmospheric coupling.
• End-to-end modeling Make the link between the
  earth system and the ecosystem.
• Integrate modeling and observations guiding
  observations by model based hypotheses.
• Need a number of long-term observations platforms
  across all scales, and need for experiments that
  cut across all three themes.
• Deliver services on a national and local level
  operational services
• Existing infrastructure
• Fragmented ships, observational facilities,
• DST task team to ensure that the infrastructure
  is made available

3
Global Change Grand Challenge

1. Understanding the ocean as part of a coupled
   regional system
2. Sustainable coastal development vulnerability
   and risks
3. Response of marine ecosystems and ecosystem
   services to global change
4. Operational capabilities Marine Science for
   Society