THE recent launch of the Oceans Institute (OI) at UWA is unlocking the potential to coordinate ocean research across several disciplines and several institutions.

UWA Vice Chancellor Professor Alan Robson opened the launch, saying the OI will bring together all the people in marine science to work on under-researched areas of ocean and coastline in WA.

A wide array of oceanic research will be undertaken at the new Oceans Institute / Image: Istockphoto

According to the director of the OI, Professor Gary Kendrick, all West Australians are responsible for the maintenance of the marine environment for future generations and we need fundamental knowledge to sustainably manage it.

“Clearly one of WA’s big needs is for more sanctuary and no-take zones,” Prof Kendrick said.

WA is a biodiversity hotspot with 1100 species of seaweed and 23 species of seagrass but Prof Kendrick said our researchers are still in the exploration stage.

“We need to know more about the physics and chemistry of the Indian Ocean.”

One of the major processes that influence every aspect of marine science is the Leeuwin Current, controlling all the physical processes as well as the biology and ecology of the WA coastline.

UWA OI Professor Chari Pattiaratchi spoke about his work using ocean gliders to investigate the many properties of the Leeuwin Current and by collecting data over many years, he hopes to better understand the changes occurring in the Indian Ocean.

The OI will also see WA Premier’s Research Fellow, Professor Malcolm McCulloch, expand his research into the global problem of ocean acidification where increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is making carbonic acid in surface sea water.

According to Prof McCulloch, this will stay with us for thousands of years and eventual penetrate deep into the ocean.

“The rate of CO2 is doubling every 40 years and the ocean is presently absorbing about 30 percent of that increase,” he said.

Ms Shari Gallop spoke on behalf of the UWA PhD students involved in research at the OI, who are studying factors influencing blue whale distribution, the restoration of sea grasses, turbulence at the Rottnest shelf, and species boundaries of sea urchins.
 
Their work at Ningaloo studies coral and reef photo-dynamics, while other projects look at the vortex-induced vibrations on floating structures and oil and gas transport ships.

Australian Institute of Marine Science CEO, Dr Ian Poiner closed the launch saying,

“We are invigorated by the potential of this new marine centre being located here in WA that will have national and global significance.”

For more information see www.oceans.uwa.edu.au

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