OCEAN: Valencia’s Flooding & more – 5th Nov 2024

Ahoy from BA! This is the Rorshok Ocean Update from the 5th of November twenty twenty-four. A summary of what's going down in the 70% surface of the Earth covered in saltwater.

On Tuesday the 29th of October, there was a devastating flood in Valencia, Spain. It caused more than 200 deaths, and was primarily driven by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Tropical Atlantic. An atmospheric river, fueled by these elevated ocean temperatures, unleashed up to 500 millimeters (about twenty inches) of rain in just eight hours—equivalent to a year's worth for some areas.

According to Climate Central, an independent group of scientists, the influence of human-induced climate change has made such ocean warmth 50 to 300 times more likely. As sea temperatures rise, the atmosphere's capacity to hold moisture increases, resulting in more intense rainfall. This event highlights the urgent need to address the implications of ocean warming on extreme weather, as the risks posed by climate change escalate not only in Europe but globally.

Next up, the Florida Atlantic University’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center will evaluate the feasibility of a grid-connected offshore facility in the Florida Current. This initiative aims to explore how ocean energy technologies can be integrated into the energy grid economically and safely.

With funding of 800,000 US dollars from the US Department of Energy, the project aspires to establish a blue energy hub in Southeast Florida, leveraging favorable ocean current conditions and local utilities' support. The feasibility study will focus on creating scalable marine power solutions while ensuring safe integration into the grid. The center plans to manage the project and oversee technical execution, aiming to advance large-scale ocean current energy development while improving understanding of coastal habitats.

Still in the Atlantic. On Thursday, the 31st of October, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau announced they had located the wreckage of a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday the 24th of October. The helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation and contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, had eight people on board when it ditched in the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima.

Recovery efforts are currently underway, with the tail boom successfully retrieved. Five bodies were recovered, and the remaining three people are still missing.

Chinese navy vessels Qijiguang and Jinggangshan just concluded a thirty-five-day mission on Friday the 1st, sailing approximately 7,000 nautical miles across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the South China Sea, the Andaman Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. The mission included visits to Malaysia and Bangladesh, with a technical stop in Singapore.

Over 1,300 cadets and instructors from the Naval University of Engineering, including eighteen foreign students from six countries, joined the voyage. The cadets trained intensively in navigation and participated in exchanges with foreign naval forces to strengthen maritime skills and international collaboration.

In other news, in an article published by Greenpeace on Tuesday the 29th of October, Vela Andapita, the Global Communications Coordinator for the Beyond Seafood project at Greenpeace, shared her experience at sea, highlighting the vital role of Wi-Fi for fishing workers. During her investigation in the North Pacific, Andapita shared internet access with crews on Taiwanese fishing vessels, allowing fishers brief moments to reconnect with family and break the at-sea isolation.

Beyond connection, Wi-Fi access allows fishers to report poor labor conditions and unsafe practices on foreign-flagged vessels. Greenpeace and partner organizations are now advocating for Wi-Fi as a fundamental right on fishing vessels, essential for human connection and accountability in the fishing industry.

On another note, the meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (or CCAMLR) concluded on Friday the 25th of October. During this meeting, which took place in Hobart, Australia, Russia and China vetoed all proposed conservation measures aimed at protecting Antarctic marine life, probably due to conflicting economic interests. Key proposals included establishing new marine protected areas and renewing krill fishery management plans, which are crucial for the survival of various species reliant on krill.

Australia described the outcome as a setback for the CCAMLR and a threat to Antarctic ecosystems. Conservation groups expressed deep disappointment, noting the setback could harm long-standing goals for marine protection.

From one Pole to the other. A study published on Thursday the 31st of October in the journal Science Advances shows that global levels of persistent organic pollutants are decreasing everywhere but in the Arctic, where they are rising. Researchers attribute this to ocean currents that carry these chemicals north, where cold Arctic conditions prevent them from breaking down and allow them to accumulate in the local food chain.

These pollutants are impacting Arctic wildlife, including polar bears and seals, through bioaccumulation. The study aims to stress the importance of international chemical regulations and the protection of vulnerable regions.

To know more about this topic, check out the Rorshok Arctic Update with the link in the show notes!

Let’s sail to the Indian Ocean. According to the recent analysis of Manoj K Channan, a Lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army, China’s growing economic and military influence in South Asia is challenging India’s traditional regional dominance. By strengthening collaboration with neighboring countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, China is shifting power dynamics and pressuring India’s autonomy.

The lieutenant colonel stated that India is now improving its military presence, focusing on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, allowing India to monitor the Malacca Strait, which is a crucial trade route for China. As the competition between the US and China escalates, India faces pressures to safeguard its influence and stability in South Asia.

On Friday the 1st the Suez Canal Authority (or SCA) confirmed its commitment to allow free passage for all vessels, including military ships, through the canal.

The SCA responded to speculation circulating on social media about military vessel movements and confirmed its adherence to international agreements that guarantee navigation rights through the canal without discrimination and ensure unrestricted access to the Suez Canal for all nations.

In some updates from another canal, The Panama Canal Authority seeks to increase its liquefied natural gas (or LNG) traffic by introducing a long-term booking system for US exports to Asia. After facing a 65% decline in LNG traffic due to last year's drought and trade disruptions, officials are optimistic about recovering volumes. They are working with US producers to streamline shipping through the canal, which is the quickest route for American LNG to Asia.

With rising demand for LNG in Asia, especially from China, US exporters are likely to increase their use of the canal. The global LNG market is set to grow as countries shift from coal to gas and energy needs rise.

Russia is maintaining a Kalibr missile carrier in the Black Sea, capable of launching up to four cruise missiles. The Ukrainian Navy said that currently there are no Russian ships in the Sea of Azov, but one missile-armed vessel has been detected in the Mediterranean, which can fire eight missiles.

This comes after five ships entered the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait, with two heading towards the Bosphorus. Additionally, seven vessels moved towards the Sea of Azov, including one from the Bosphorus. All these ship movements were on behalf of Russia. The Ukrainian Navy accuses Russia of violating the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea by disabling their ships' automatic identification systems.

Let’s wrap up this edition with the World Tsunami Awareness Day, observed annually on the 5th of November, which aims to raise awareness about the hazards of tsunamis and promote global preparedness for such natural disasters. This year, the United Nations encouraged countries to hold awareness campaigns and educational programs, especially for coastal communities vulnerable to tsunamis.

Several coastal cities hosted local events such as tsunami drills, educational workshops, and seminars that promoted disaster preparedness and resilience. In addition, a global social media campaign used the hashtags #TsunamiDay and #GetToHighGround, sharing important safety messages and educational content.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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