In the vast, blue expanse of our planet, a silent crisis is unfolding. Ocean deserts, those vast regions of the sea with little life or nutrients, are spreading at an alarming rate. Scientists at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are rolling up their sleeves and diving headfirst into this issue with a new, five-year project called EXPAND. Funded by a USD$3.5 million European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant, this initiative aims to tackle the expansion of these “ocean deserts” and explore whether microscopic organisms called diazotrophs could be the key to slowing or even reversing this trend.
Subtropical gyres, as these ocean deserts are scientifically known, cover more than 60% of the ocean’s surface. They’re expanding at a rate of five million square kilometers per decade—an area equivalent to the Amazon Rainforest or the entire European Union. As global temperatures rise, scientists are growing increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of this expansion on marine ecosystems and the Earth’s climate. The stakes are high, and the clock is ticking.
The EXPAND project is setting its sights on the Indian Ocean subtropical gyre, the least understood of these ocean deserts. Led by NOC senior scientist Dr. Mar Benavides, the project brings together a dream team of partners from France, the USA, Canada, and South Africa. Benavides doesn’t mince words when it comes to the urgency of the task at hand. “We need to understand what’s driving the expansion of these ocean deserts—and whether biological nitrogen fixation can help counteract its effects,” she asserts.
The team will embark on two expeditions aboard the R/V Marion Dufresne, collecting critical data from the Indian Ocean. But they’re not just packing their bags and heading out to sea. They’re also bringing along some cutting-edge tech. NOC’s advanced automated ocean observing equipment will be deployed to monitor diazotroph activity and diversity over an entire year, providing continuous data even when the scientists are back on land.
So, what does this all mean for the future of our oceans and our planet? Well, for starters, it could lead to some serious improvements in climate change models. By uncovering the links between nitrogen fixation and marine productivity, the EXPAND team could help refine these models and improve predictions of how marine ecosystems respond to environmental changes. In other words, they could give us a better idea of what’s in store for our oceans—and our planet—as the climate continues to change.
But the potential impacts of this project don’t stop at improved models. The insights gained from EXPAND could also pave the way for new strategies to mitigate climate change’s impact on our oceans. Imagine a world where we could actively work to slow or even reverse the expansion of ocean deserts. It’s a lofty goal, but with the right research and a healthy dose of innovation, it might just be within our reach.
The EXPAND project is more than just a scientific endeavor; it’s a call to action. It’s a reminder that our oceans are in trouble, and that we have the power to make a difference. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, dive in, and get to work. The future of our oceans—and our planet—depends on it.